Beavs Open Pac-12 Play at Colorado

Photo by: Scobel Wiggins/Oregon State Athletics

September 27, 2016 | Football

By: Oregon State Athletic Communications

THE SERIES/GAME FACTS
•   Ninth meeting between Oregon State and Colorado.
•   Oregon State leads the series 5-3 and has won two of three since the conference expanded and Colorado joined the Pac-12. The teams have split the four previous contests in Boulder.
•   OSU outside wide receivers coach Brent Brennan was on San Jose State's staff when CU head coach Mike MacIntyre was the Spartans' head coach in 2010 – his first year.
•   Brennan was a player at UCLA when CU assistant coach Gary Bernardi was on the Bruins' staff.
•   Redshirt freshman safety Jalen Moore is OSU's only Colorado native on the roster in 2016. Moore, who graduated from Upland High School in California, calls Denver his hometown.
•   Free safety Andre Harris tied a school record that still stands with 22 tackles at Colorado Sept. 24, 1988. No other Beaver had more than eight tackles in the game.

BIG PLAY BOLDEN: Senior Victor Bolden Jr. has been all over the field for the Beavers through three games - as a wide receiver, running jet sweeps and reverses, and returning punts and kickoffs. In the early going, Bolden Jr. has punished teams for failing to account for him resulting in big plays for the Beavers. Bolden Jr. is the only player in the NCAA with two plays of 90+ yards - 92-yard jet sweep (second-longest rushing play in OSU history) against Idaho State and a 99-yard kickoff return against Boise State.

DANGEROUS RETURNS: OSU leads the Pac-12 and ranks fourth in the country for yards per kickoff return at 32.7. Senior Victor Bolden Jr. leads the country individually at 40.2 yards, 13 yards more than the next closest player in the Pac-12.

BEAVER WR COACH FORMER MACINTYRE STAFFER: OSU outside wide receivers coach Brent Brennan was on San Jose State's staff when CU head coach Mike MacIntyre was the Spartans' head coach in 2010 – his first year.

6 IS THE RECORD: Former OSU quarterback and current Los Angeles Ram Sean Mannion set the school record with six touchdown passes vs. Colorado Sept. 24, 2013 in Corvallis – a 44-17 victory in the first time the two programs had met in 25 years. Mannion had 414 yards in the air, 10th all-time at OSU.

WE'LL BE BACK: The Beavers will head back to the state of Colorado next year as it has the first of a home-and-home series with the Colorado State Rams tentatively set to begin Sept. 23, 2017 in Fort Collins. CSU travels to Corvallis in 2020. The two programs have met only twice, both in the Corvallis, and the last in 1975.

THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY: This is the third year in a row that Oregon State has completed its three-game non-conference schedule before playing a league game.

TRENDING BETTER: OSU is averaging 28 points per game through three contests, that would be an improvement of nine points over last season overall. The Beavers are allowing 25 points per game, which would be a 12-point improvement over a year ago. OSU was last in the Pac-12 for scoring offense last year and 11th for scoring defense; to this point it ranks eighth and sixth, respectively.

1: As in the number of touchdown passes allowed by the Beavers, tied for the fewest in the country with Baylor, Memphis, Miami, Kansas State and Georgia State. OSU leads the Pac-12 for pass efficiency defense and is seventh in the country.

NEW COORDINATORS: The Oregon State football program is one of five in the nation (Bowling Green, Hawai'i, UCF and Utah State) that has had a different offensive AND defensive coordinator in each of the last three seasons. On the offensive side, the Beavers have been led by John Garrett (2014), Dave Baldwin (2015) and Kevin McGiven and T.J. Woods are co-coordinators in 2016, while on the defensive side it has been Mark Banker (2014), Kalani Sitake (2015) and now Kevin Clune (2016). Bowling Green is the only team to have had four different coordinators on both sides of the ball in the last four years. In point of fact, Danny Langsdorf was the offensive coordinator for the previous 10 seasons before Garrett's stint under then-head coach Mike Riley.

AIMING FOR THE CYCLE: Senior do-everything player Victor Bolden Jr. is one of five players in the nation to have scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and as a kick returner in 2016. Bolden joined the club last Saturday with his 99-yard kickoff return against Boise State. Others that have accomplished the feat are Quadree Henderson (Pittsburgh), T.J. Logan (North Carolina), Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) and John Ross (Washington).

TWO OF THE BEST: Starting wide receivers Victor Bolden Jr. and Jordan Villamin will spend the season climbing Oregon State's career receiving yards records list. Currently Bolden Jr. ranks 15th all-time at OSU with 1,452 receiving yards while Villamin is tied for 21st with 1,282 yards.

VIC AND VILLY: Victor Bolden Jr. and Jordan Villamin are one of two sets of teammates in the nation with receptions in 20+ games. Bolden Jr. has now caught a ball in the last 27 games in which he has played while Villamin has receptions in 24 straight. Wyoming's Tanner Gentry (23) and Jake Maulhardt (21) are the other combination.

OFF TO A GOOD START: Junior QB Darell Garretson, who sat out the 2015 due to NCAA transfer rules, made his Oregon State debut at Minnesota completing 25 of 40 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the best starting debut performance by an OSU signal-caller since Cody Vaz passed for 332 yards and three scores in a 42-24 victory at BYU in 2012. Garretson joined the likes of some of OSU's greatest quarterbacks in history with only Matt Moore and Erik Wilhem throwing for more TDs in a debut performance with four and other than Vaz, Derek Anderson is the only other to throw for three scores in the modern era.

NEGATIVE RETURNS: Oregon State is one of six teams in the FBS that is allowing negative yards on punt returns. The Beavers are sixth in the nation allowing -0.3 yard per return. It looks like it could be a tough year for returners in the conference as Washington is second at -5.0 yards and Washington State is third at -1.50. Arizona State is one of seven teams allowing 0.0 yards. South Alabama leads the nation at -7.33 yards.

YOU'LL TAKE IT WHERE I GIVE IT TO YOU: Junior punter Nick Porebski has punted 19 times through three games and has yet to allow a single yard in the return game. He has forced five fair catches, placed seven inside the opponents' 20-yard line - including four last week against Boise State - and smashed two for more than 50 yards including a 58-yarder against Idaho State. Opponents have attempted three returns for -1 yard.

MORE FRESH FACES: Oregon State coaches called on 18 players to make their OSU debuts in the season-opener at Minnesota. In the home opener against Idaho State another seven more took the field for the first time as a Beaver. In all six true freshmen have played in the early season including: QB Conor Blount, WR Trevon Bradford, OL Gus Lavaka, RB Artavis Pierce, K Adley Rutschman and LB Shemar Smith. In addition, redshirt freshmen DT Elu Aydon, WR Andre Bodden, OT Blake Brandel, CB Xavier Crawford, S Omar Hicks-Onu, CB Jay Irvine, S Jalen Moore, CB Shawn Wilson and TE Tuli Wily-Matagi bring the total of freshmen (true and redshirt combined) to play to 14. Nine transfers have also been called upon to contribute including: RB Tim Cook, QB Darell Garretson, WR Timmy Hernandez, OL Brayden Kearsley, DE Phillip Napoleon, S Landry Payne, LB Wesley Payne, DT Paisa Savea and CB Kyle White. Juniors OL Sam Curtius and RB Marcus Greaves as well as sophomore OL Yanni Demogerontas also took the field for the first in the opener.

NEW STARTERS: Five Oregon State players have registered the first starts of their careers. Sophomore Yanni Demogerontas has started both games thus far at center earning the first snaps of his career. In addition, redshirt freshmen DT Elu Aydon, LT Blake Brandel and CB Xavier Crawford have also drawn the starting nod in each game. Senior RB Tim Cook took the first snap last week against Idaho State in a two-back set. In addition, juniors QB Darell Garretson and OL Brayden Kearsley have made their first starts at OSU. Garretson has started all three games this season, while Kearsley made his first start last week against Boise State. Both players had started at their previous schools, Garretson arrived at OSU with 11 starts under his belt at Utah State and Kearsley had four starts at BYU.

NEW COORDINATORS: The Oregon State football program is one of five in the nation (Bowling Green, Hawai'i, UCF and Utah State) that has had a different offensive AND defensive coordinator in each of the last three seasons. On the offensive side, the Beavers have been led by John Garrett (2014), Dave Baldwin (2015) and Kevin McGiven and T.J. Woods will co-coordinate in 2016, while on the defensive side it has been Mark Banker (2014), Kalani Sitake (2015) and now Kevin Clune (2016). Bowling Green is the only team to have had four different coordinators on both sides of the ball in the last four years. In point of fact, Danny Langsdorf was the offensive coordinator for the previous 10 seasons before Garrett's stint under then-head coach Mike Riley.

SENIOR CLASS: The Beavers are once again one of the most inexperienced teams in the country. OSU enters the season with 15 seniors on the active roster, which ranks as tied with Washington State as the second-youngest team in the Pac-12 behind USC with 14. It is tied as the 13th-fewest seniors in the nation.

TRUE STUDENT-ATHLETES: Eleven Beavers either have or are on track to graduate by January. Juniors Kendall Hill, who was recently granted a sixth year of eligibility, graduated following summer term with a degree in human development and family sciences, and Garrett Owens, received his degree in sociology in the spring. In addition, Gavin Andrews (economics), Devin Chappell (economics), Rahmel Dockery (sociology), Sean Harlow (human development and family sciences), Ricky Ortiz (agricultural sciences), Caleb Saulo (sociology), Dustin Stanton (business administration), Noke Tago (human development and family sciences) and Sosaia Tauaho (liberal studies) are scheduled to graduate in December.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN: Oregon State safety Kendall Hill has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Hill missed his true freshman season (2012) due to a knee injury suffered during the spring of his senior year of high school. He then suffered a season-ending knee injury during the spring practice session in 2013 and missed a second straight year.

TEAM CAPTAINS: The 2016 team is captained by seniors Victor Bolden Jr., Devin Chappell, Sean Harlow, Caleb Saulo, Dustin Stanton and junior Darell Garretson.

NEW HOME FOR THE BEAVS: The first phase of the Victory Through Valley Project was completed recently as the team moved into its new locker room in the newly expanded and renovated Valley Football Center. The completed additions include an expanded athletic medicine facility, expanded equipment operations, renovated offices for the coaching staff, and an academic/life skills office. Still under construction is a football hall of fame, lobby and auditorium. For more on the $42 million project go to www.ourbeavernation.com.

CAMP BEND: The Oregon State football program opened fall camp by trekking across the Cascade Mountain range 155 miles to Bend, Ore. for the first week of practice. The team worked out at Summit High School while living in the dorms of Central Oregon Community College. The squad was able to work on team-bonding as well as receiving the benefits of working out at an elevation of 3,623 feet.

DREAMS COME TRUE: Oregon State Athletics and Unitus Community Credit Union have teamed up to grant wishes each game. Through Unitus' Dreams Come True program, the Beavers will welcome a child facing serious illness to Reser Stadium for the ultimate fan experience every home game during the 2016 season. Recipients will be recognized on the video board during the game, receive tickets, pre-game sideline passes, a chance to interact with the players on game day, a football signed by the OSU football team and a personalized game jersey. To learn more about the Dreams Come True program visit osubeavers.com/dreamcometrue

300TH GAME IN RESER: The Beavers' will play their 300th game in Reser (formerly Parker) Stadium late this year against Arizona, Nov. 19.

60TH ANNIVERSARY: The 2016 season is also the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Rose Bowl season. The game was commemorated during the weekend of Sept. 23-25 when the Beavers hosted Boise State. The game was the Beavers' second Rose Bowl berth, but first actually at the Rose Bowl. A crowd of 100,000 witnessed 10th-ranked Oregon State fall to No. 3 Iowa 35-19. Joe Francis rushed for 73 yards and passed for another 130 yards in the loss.

75TH ANNIVERSARY: The 2016 season marks the 75th anniversary of the 1941 Rose Bowl season. The anniversary will be recognized Oct. 29 when the Beavers host Washington State for "The Men of Roses" game ... The game produced two important firsts. It was Oregon State College's first-ever trip to the famous New Year's Day classic, and it remains the only Rose Bowl played outside Pasadena. The reason the game was moved to Durham, N.C. due to the blackout of the West Coast that had followed the attack on Pearl Harbor. The host stadium was Duke University's home field in Durham, N.C., with the undefeated Blue Devils picked as 3-1 favorites. Oregon State's victory came as a big surprise to Eastern and Southern sportswriters, with Sid Feder of the Associated Press writing, "Probably never in the quarter century history of the Tournament of Roses had such a completely overlooked betting underdog jumped up to beat the big fellows. Oregon State came East to the wonderment of most of Dixie as to why the Westerners were going to show up at all." ... Oregon State won the game 20-16 and Jack Gunether of UPI wrote, "The Beavers skipped and slammed and flicked passes with an ease and finesse which completely baffled the record crowd." ... Beaver boss, Lon Stiner, at 38 and the youngest head coach in Rose Bowl history, led the Beavers and Dan Durdan passed and ran OSC to victory earning Player of the Game honors. The winning score came in the third quarter when Gene Gray scored on a 68-yard pass from Bob Dethman.