Beavers Grind Out 36-31 Victory At Colorado

Saturday, October 4

Boulder, CO

1:00 PM

Oregon State

4-1-0 , 1-1

Colorado

2-4-0 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon State

Colorado

Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics

October 05, 2014 | Football

Box Score

By: Athletic Communications

BOULDER, Colo. – Senior tailback Terron Ward rushed for 102 yards and scored twice to spark a potent ground attack that powered Oregon State to a 36-31 win over Colorado at Folsom Field on Saturday.

Ward scored OSU's opening touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and then added the clinching score on a 10-yard run with 5:09 remaining. After a Colorado score and an OSU punt, the Beavers stiffened defensively and stopped Colorado's final drive at the OSU 40-yard line with 1:48 remaining and then ran out the clock.

The victory ended a six-game Pacific-12 Conference losing streak over the past two seasons and improved the Beavers to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes dropped to 2-4 overall, 0-3 in the Pac-12.

“It feels great to come out here and get a win against a tough team in a tough environment,” senior quarterback Sean Mannion said. “We handled the road well. Everyone is satisfied with the way we played and the fact we won.”

Ward needed just 12 carries to compile his second 100-yard game of the season and averaged 8.5 yards per carry. Junior tailback Storm Woods added 69 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries; the Beavers rushed for 189 yards on 27 carries, not including sacks.

“Our running game was outstanding,” Mannion said. “We pride ourselves on being balanced. Our offensive line has been great, not only in protection but in the run game. When you couple that with two good runners, it makes for a good unit.”

Mannion completed 27 of 37 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. He remained third all-time in Pac-12 passing yardage with 11,740; he still trails USC's Carson Palmer (11,818) and Matt Barkley (12,327).

Mannion also became the 24th quarterback in Pac-12 history with 1,000 or more completions with a 9-yard connection with Richard Mullaney in the first quarter. He now ranks 21st all-time with 1,023 completions.

OSU led 14-0 in the first quarter following short scoring runs by Ward and Woods. Trevor Romaine added 38- and 33-yard field goals but the Buffaloes rallied and took a 21-20 halftime lead with 43 seconds left before the break.

“In the locker room at halftime we felt we could have done more in terms of production in the red zone,” Mannion said, and they settled for two field goals instead of touchdowns. “I think was what important was we came out focused and did it in the second half.”

OSU took the lead for good, 23-21, on Romaine's 47-yard field goal with 6:47 to play in the third quarter. Mannion added a 24-yard TD pass and Ward's second TD in the fourth quarter stretched the lead to 36-24 as the Beavers held on for their first Pac-12 win since a 49-17 rout of California in Berkeley on Oct. 19, 2013.

Tight ends Connor Hamlett (6-52) and Caleb Smith (4-67) combined for 10 receptions. Victor Bolden returned after missing the Sept. 27 USC game with a dislocated pinkie finger and had six catches for 38 yards and two runs for 18 more.

The Beavers have a bye next Saturday. They resume Pac-12 action against Utah at Reser Stadium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The game will be televised by FOX Sports 1.

For more information on the Oregon State football team, follow the club's official Twitter accounts at Twitter.com/@OSUBeaversFB and Twitter.com/@Coach_Riley.