PAC-12 GAME UPDATES: OREGON STATE WINS BIG AT COLORADO STATE 56-26 BEHIND JESSE LEGREE AND BRADEN ATKINSON
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BOISE STATE DOMINATES UTAH STATE 31-10. SAN DIEGO STATE GETS A WIN, FRESNO STATE TAKES CARE OF WSU
Oregon State(3-2, 1-0 Pac-12) came to make a statement. A pre-season mid-conference pick, the Beavers are making a statement that they are one of the premier teams in the new iteration of the Pac-12 Conference after blasting the Rams (203, 0-1 Pac-12) 56-26 in Fort Collins. Quarterback Braden Atkinson was a stellar 31/34 passing for 428 yards and 5 touchdowns without a turnover. Making a case for the best receiver in the conference, Freshman Jesse Legree accounted for 157 yards on 5 receptions and three touchdowns. The Beavers came in as 5.5 point favorites and they quickly set the standard for efficiency. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a Legree 50 yard score and a Gabe Milbourn 2 yard rush. The Rams answered with Mel Brown 17 yard run. Early in the second quarter K’saan Farrar rushed for a one yard plunge to tie things at 14. Here’s where the Beavers took off. They would pound out three straight scores to lead 35-14 at halftime. Aaron Butler broke off a 30 yard run, an Atkinson 5 yard scoring pass to Eric Olsen and a 28 yard score to Legree were just what the Beavers needed to move momentum.
In the third quarter, Olsen made another touchdown reception, this one for 8 yards and the Beavers were up 42-14. Ram wideout Nader Chirchi joined the fun with a 7 yard pass from Farrar. In the fourth, Cornell Hatcher Jr. rushed for an 11-yard score. The Rams would make their final score on a 9-yard rush by Durell Robinson. He would end up with 131 yards on 23 carries. The final score was another Atkinson to Legree score, this one for 53 yards. The Beavers would account for 34 first downs and 651 yards of total offense. The Rams would finish with 366 yards of offense. Oregon State might have sent a loud message that they are going to be a voice to be reckoned with. The Beavers return home next week for a game against San Diego State, while Colorado State has a bye before they travel to Texas State for a Thursday night game on October 15. Not wanting to look too far ahead, but October 31 is a meeting at Fresno State followed by a game at Boise State on November 14. They’ve certainly punched their ticket as one of the premier teams in the conference. Early losses against Power-4 schools may have helped to solidify this Beaver team.
Boise State continues dominance in win over Utah State
Both Utah State and Boise State played their first Pac-12 game. The result was much like previous games against Utah State. This time, the Broncos took care of business at home with a 37-18 victory. Boise State (4-1, 1-0 Pac-12 Conference) leads the overall series against the Aggies 26-5 and has won 12 in a row at home. This year it was efficient and effective, especially on offense. Quarterback Maddux Madsen was 17 of 21 passing for 244 yards and two scores. Dylan Riley rushed 18 times for 93 yards while wideout Rasean Jones added 88 more yards on 5 receptions. Boise State jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a six play, 89 yard drive culminating on Riley’s 5-yard scoring run. Aggies (1-4, 0-1 Pac-12) signal caller Grady Brosterhous was 12/18 for 129 yards and two scores. Javen Jacobs caught a one yard pass for a score to go along with his 139 yards on the ground. The Broncos led 28-10 a half. Each team added another touchdown in the second half to reach the final score. Boise State won comfortably in the driver’s seat the entire game. The Broncos will carry their momentum next week as they travel to Fresno State. Expect that to be one of the big highlight games on the west coast next weekend. Utah State will host Washington State.
Fresno State in control over Washington State
Fresno went to Martin Stadium last night on a three game win streak and showed the Cougars who was the top animal. The Bulldog offense and defense controlled the game with the defense holding Washington State to season low in rushing yards at 30. Cougar quarterback Caden Pinnick carried 11 times for a minus 23 in offense. Fresno State Quarterback Jayden Mandal was 24-33 passing for 245 yards as the Bulldogs controlled the time of possession 36 minutes to 24. Fresno State wide receiver made the game breaking play when he took a reverse pitch and hit the Cougar corner and raced into the endzone for a 3-yard score and a Bulldog 13-6 lead. Running back Julius Glick scored on an 8-yard carry later in the fourth quarter. Place kicker, Manaki Watanabe continued his torrid pace with four more field goals of 27, 22, 31 an 33. He did have one blocked by the Cougars. Bulldog star running back Rayshon Luke left the game in the first quarter and did not return. He had accounted for 46 yards at the time of his departure. Coaches will want him healthy for next weeks game. A crowd of 26,471 witnessed the game and probably left wondering if the Cougars will escape the cellar in the new Pac-12. Washington State travels to Utah State on Friday and Fresno State is home to host Boise State next Saturday in a very important key matchup.
Texas State loses lead to a depleted Aztec team as San Diego State comes from behind to upset Texas State 31-29 in the Pac-12 Conference opener
In a wild game in San Diego, The Aztecs used big plays to come from behind and top the Bobcats in the opening conference game. The Bobcats looked fairly in control as they built up a 17-3 lead against an Aztec team missing several key players due to injury and mumps. TXST quarterback Brad Jackson had scoring tosses of 21 yards to Ty Starney and 6 yards to Davian Jackson to build their halftime lead. The second half would be a nightmare for TXST as they would be outscored 28-12. The second half kickoff would be returned 96 yards by Jaylon Hawkins to help restart a hibernating Aztec team. The Aztecs would score the next two times, both on Josiah Lucas runs, putting them ahead 24-17. A Bobcat 45 yard field goal would follow and then a safety to put the score at 24-22. The backbreaker was an errant Jackson pass tipped at the line and caught by Aztec Cameron Cooper who would racfe 32 yars for the score making it 31-22. The Bobcats would score one last time on a 40 yard pass from Jackson to Beau Sparks. TXST would get the ball back, but would turnover on downs. Jackson showed why he is one of the premier quarterbacks in the conference throwing for 372 yards on 27-42 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also was the teams leading rusher with 80 yards on 22 carries. Beau Sparks had a breakout game as he accounted for 153 reception yards on 10 catches. The Bobcats had 565 yards of total offense, while holding the Aztecs to 239 yards. Aztec signal caller Jayden Denegal was 15-23 passing for 109 yards. Freshman Josiah Lucas led the Aztecs on the ground with 111 yards on 21 carries and two scores. The Aztecs really had no reason winning this game with the missing players and the complete dominance of TXST on the offense. A crowd of 28,474 at Snapdragon Stadium may have witnessed one of the finest Aztec turnarounds in recent history. Special teams and defense carried the day and there was just enough offense to control the end result. The Bobcats will be taken down a peg, losing a sure win. They will return to San Marcos to host Colorado State in their Pac-12 home opener on October 15. The Aztecs return to play next Saturday at Oregon State. Will the Aztecs defense be able to put the restraints on a super charged Beaver squad?
Another Coaching Snafu
Montana State seemingly had their game against Idaho in the bag. The Bobcats were leading 34-27 with time winding down. The Vandals were scrambling to try and get a play off and instead of letting the clock hit zero, Bobcat coach Brent Vigen called a timeout with one second left to get his defense set. This allowed the Vandals to score on a Joshua Wood to Ryan Jezioro 25 yard score to bring the game to within one. They went for two and Wood scored to launch Idaho into celebration. This decision sent fans and social media into a frenzy claiming the worst coaching decision ever and why did he let the other team get organized. This will be one for the case study reviews of how now to close out a game.
Pac-12 Standings
After one week, we’be got a top and a bottom among the teams. This likely could be the finishing standings come season end.
- Boise State (4-1, 1-0)
- Fresno State (4-1, 1-0)
- Oregon State (3-2, 1-0)
- San Diego State (2-3, 1-0)
- Colorado State (2-3, 0-1)
- Texas State (2-3, 0-1)
- Utah State (1-4, 0-1)
- Washington State (1-4, 0-1)
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