Oregon State
1-4 , 1-2
Arizona
1-5 , 0-4
Big Second Quarter Paces Beavers To Win Over Arizona
October 08, 2011 | Football
Oct. 8, 2011
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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Sean Mannion threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns and Jovan Stevenson rushed for a career-high 99 yards and a score as the Oregon State football team defeated Arizona, 37-27, Saturday at Reser Stadium.
Lance Mitchell had a fumbe recovery, interception and pass breakup to pace the Oregon State defense as the Beavers snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 1-4 on the year and send Arizona to a 1-5 record.
The Oregon State defense held on after the OSU offense helped pace the Beavers to a 27-6 lead entering halftime. The Beavers scored 27 points in the second quarter on two field goals by Trevor Romaine, a 1-yard score by Stevenson, a punt block for touchdown by Clayton York and a 3-yard touchdown reception by Joe Halahuni.
It all combined to help the Beavers get their first victory of the season.
The 27 second-quarter points were the most in a quarter for the Beavers since they posted 28 in the second quarter against Arizona in 2003. It came after a scoreless first quarter and proved to hugely beneficial as Arizona outscored Oregon State, 21-10, in the second half.
The Wildcats pulled to within three, 30-27, late in the fourth quarter, threatening to take the lead. But Mannion connected with Halahuni for the tight end's second score of the game on a 2-yard touchdown with 4:05 remaining in the game.
Arizona and quarterback Nick Foles had two consecutive drives stopped deep in Oregon State territory late in the fourth quarter. Foles had 378 yards passing, but was able to throw for just one score in the loss.
Mannion, meanwhile, threw for more than 200 yards for his fourth consecutive game, accomplishing a feat achieved by Sean Canfield, Matt Moore, Derek Anderson and Jonathan Smith over the last decade.
Mannion completed 32-of-41 passes attempted, with a team-high six going to Markus Wheaton, upping his total to 38 this season. Stevenson, Halahuni and Jordan Jenkins all had five for OSU.
While Foles threw for 378 yards, he was also picked off twice, once by Mitchell and another by Michael Doctor, who recorded his first career interception. The Beavers also managed eight pass breakups, including a game-high four for Jordan Poyer, who also led Oregon State with eight tackles.
The Beavers also kept their pressure on Foles and the Arizona running game. OSU tallied four tackles for loss, forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles. Arizona's leading rusher was Keola Antolin, who, while tallying one rushing score, only carried the ball six times for 28 yards.
All told, the Wildcats finished with 53 rushing yards, the Beavers' fewest allowed since giving California just 23 in 2010.
The two interceptions of Foles and two fumble recoveries gave the Beavers eight turnovers over their last two games - four against both Arizona State and Arizona. It's the first time since the 2005 season that the Beavers have forced four or more turnovers in two straight games.
In 2005, it was six against Washington State and five against California.
On Saturday, OSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead after Stevenson opened the scoring with a 1-yard rush at the 11:38 mark and York blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown three minutes later. He became the first Beaver to accomplish that feat since Damola Adeniji against Washington State in 2008.
Arizona scored on a 28-yard touchdown reception by Dan Buckner but the point after was missed, allowing the Beavers to keep an eight-point lead.
That grew to 21 by the end of the first half after Romaine connected on field goals of 37 and 40 yards, respectively, and Halahuni caught his first touchdown from 3 yards out.
The Wildcats, however, made their strike in the third quarter and early in the fourth. Antolin scored from 13 yards out on a rush at the 4:45 mark of the third - three minutes after Romaine hit a 20-yard field goal.
Just eight seconds later, Shaquille Richardson picked off a Mannion pass and brought it 28 yards for the touchdown. That pulled Arizona to within 10, 30-20.
That was reduced to 30-27 when Ka'Deem Carey scored on a 1-yard plunge with 11:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.
OSU was, however, able to gain some breathing room when Halahuni dove for a 2-yard touchdown reception six minutes later and OSU held on for the 10-point win.
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Team Stats
ARIZ 0, OSU 7
OSU - Stevenson, J. 1 yd run (Romaine, Trevor kick), 17 plays, 92 yards, TOP 8:48
ARIZ 0, OSU 14
OSU - York, Clayton 41 yd blocked punt return (Romaine, Trevor kick)
ARIZ 6, OSU 14
ARIZ - Buckner, D. 28 yd pass from Foles, N. (Zendejas, A. kickfailed) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:32
ARIZ 6, OSU 17
OSU - Romaine, Trevor 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:57
ARIZ 6, OSU 24
OSU - Halahuni, Joe 3 yd pass from Mannion, Sean (Romaine, Trevor kick) 6 plays, 39 yards, TOP 1:27
ARIZ 6, OSU 27
OSU - Romaine, Trevor 40 yd field goal 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 0:13
ARIZ 6, OSU 30
OSU - Romaine, Trevor 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:49
ARIZ 14, OSU 30
ARIZ - Antolin, K. 13 yd run (Douglas, D. pass), 8 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:43
ARIZ 20, OSU 30
ARIZ - Richardson, S. 28 yd interception (Foles, N. passfailed)
ARIZ 27, OSU 30
ARIZ - Carey, K. 1 yd run (Bonano, J. kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:42
ARIZ 27, OSU 37
OSU - Halahuni, Joe 2 yd pass from Mannion, Sean (Romaine, Trevor kick) 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 4:05
