Poyer's Interception Return Highlights Day In Loss To BYU

Saturday, October 15

Corvallis, Ore.

1:00 PM

Oregon State

1-5 , 1-2

BYU

5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

BYU

Oregon State

Poyer's Interception Return Highlights Day In Loss To BYU

October 15, 2011 | Football

Box Score

By: TBD

Oct. 15, 2011

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Jordan Poyer returned an interception for touchdown and Sean Mannion passed for 306 yards but it wasn't enough to overcome BYU as the Beavers dropped a 38-28 decision to the Cougars Saturday at Reser Stadium.

Poyer picked off a Riley Nelson pass with 1:18 remaining in the first half and returned it 51 yards for his second career defensive score. It tied the game at 14 after the Cougars had gone up 14-0 to start the game.

Poyer ended the game with the interception - tying him for the Pac-12 Conference lead - and two pass breakups in addition to 171 yards on seven kick returns. His effort, however, wasn't enough to help the Beavers overcome 24 second-half points by BYU to just 14 for the Beavers.

Mannion threw for 306 yards - his highest single-game total at Reser Stadium - and capped off his afternoon with a 59-yard pass to Brandin Cooks that pulled the Beavers to within three, 24-21, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Mannion ended the day 27-for-43 with one score and two interceptions.

BYU scored 14 consecutive points after Mannion found Cooks. The Cougars opened the fourth quarter with a 2-yard pass from Nelson to JD Falslev that made it 31-21. Seven minutes later, Nelson threw another pass, this one 8 yards to Kaneakua Friel for the 38-21 advantage.

OSU (1-5 overall) added a final touchdown with 23 seconds remaining when Jovan Stevenson found the end zone but it was too little, too late.

Nelson ended the afternoon passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns, finishing 17-for-27. He also led the Cougars (5-2) in rushing with 87 yards on 12 attempts.

Cody Hoffman caught nine passes for 162 yards to lead all receivers; Markus Wheaton was tops on the Beavers with eight pass receptions for 104 yards.

Neither team was particularly fine offensively. The Beavers committed four turnovers - two via interceptions and two via fumbles. BYU, meanwhile, threw an interception and fumbled the ball twice, one of which was recovered by the Beavers. Scott Crichton cradled that fumble for the first recovery of his career.

Oregon State also managed its fifth block on a field goal attempt of the season as Crichton managed to get a hand on a 50-yard attempt. The blocked kick was eventually returned by Anthony Watkins 60 yards to the BYU 30 as time expired in the first half.

The teams combined to commit 18 penalties totaling 134 yards.

The game was ultimately even statistically, except for a key categories. BYU held an advantage in rushing yardage, 282 to 59, and had a time of advantage better than seven minutes; 33:36 to 26:24. The Cougars also scored on all six of their trips inside the red zone; OSU was 2-for-3.

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