NCAA Game Summary - Oregon State At Oregon
POSTED: 8:24 pm PST December 1,
2007
Eugene, OR -- (Sports Network) - James Rodgers ran for a 25-yard touchdown in the second overtime and Matt Sieverson rushed for 142 yards and a score as Oregon State defeated No. 18 Oregon, 38-31, in the teams' annual rivalry game known as the "Civil War." After both teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime and the game evened at 31-31, OSU got the ball to start the second OT and on the first play of the set, Rodgers took the pitch from Lyle Moevao and ran 25 yards down the right sideline for the go-ahead score. The Ducks got the ball with a chance to keep the game alive, but facing a 4th- and-1 from the OSU 16, Jonathan Stewart was stopped for no gain and the Beavers held on for the 38-31 win. "Im just so proud of these guys; they never quit, Oregon State head coach Mike Riley said. "This game was just a microcosm of our season. The ducks never gave up either. It was just a great football game and both teams never gave up." Rodgers finished with 45 yards on five carries, while Moevao was 20-of-37 passing for 245 yards with an interception and a rushing score for Oregon State (8-4, 6-3) which has won three straight. Brandon Powers caught five passes for 80 yards in the win. Justin Roper finished 13-of-25 passing for 144 yards with two touchdowns, an interception, and also ran for a TD for Oregon (8-4, 5-4 Pac-10), which has dropped three straight games. Stewart had 163 yards rushing on 39 carries in defeat. With the game tied at 21-21, Oregon regained the lead midway through the third period. Starting on its own 33, Stewart ran the ball three consecutive times, taking it to the OSU 48. Roper then connected with Jeffrey Maehl for 33 yards and three plays later capped the seven-play, 67-yard drive when he ran for a seven-yard score to give the Ducks the seven-point lead. Moevao's one-yard run around right tackle finalized a 71-yard, eight-play set and tied the contest at 28 early in the fourth quarter. The game remained tied and Oregon State had a golden opportunity to take the lead with just over a minute to play, but Alexis Serna's 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Walter Thurmond, who fired off the right end to get a piece of the ball and Oregon took over at its own 38. The Ducks then moved the ball down to the 36 and facing a fourth-and-10, Matt Evensen was brought on to attempt at 53-yard field goal but missed wide left. However, the Beavers were whistled for a 15-yard personal foul penalty and Oregon decided to bring the offense back onto the field. Roper then dropped back and took a three-yard loss to give Evensen a better angle on a potential field-goal attempt, but with no time outs remaining, the Ducks decided to hurry out the field goal unit instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock and Evensen's attempt from 40 yards was off the mark and the game went into overtime. "I am real proud of our players," Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "They came out and battled today. We believed we could win, and they almost made it happen. I think this group of kids is special." Oregon State wasted little time getting on the board as the Beavers found the end zone two plays into the contest. Starting at their own 33, Moevao hit Anthony Brown for a 29-yard gain, before Sieverson ran it in from 38 yards out to give the visitors the early advantage. Following a short Oregon State punt from its own end zone, the Ducks got the ball on their 34 and went right to work. After two short gains, Roper connected with Maehl for a 31-yard score to tie the contest with 4:02 left in the first stanza. Clinton Polk's one-yard run capped an eight-play, 66-yard drive, putting OSU up 14-7 with just under a minute remaining in the opening quarter. With Oregon facing a 3rd-and-15 situation on its own 22 early in the second, Roper dropped back and threw toward the right side, but had his pass picked off by Derrick Doggett, who raced 28 yards down the sideline for the score putting the Beavers up by 14. The Ducks were not about to go quietly as they struck for a pair of scores in the closing minute of the first half. First it was Roper hitting Garren Strong for a three-yard TD on fourth-and-goal, then after OSU got the ball back on the kickoff, Moevao fumbled on the first play of the set and Jairus Byrd scooped up the ball and went 33 yards for a score to tie the contest at 21 apiece heading into the intermission.Game Notes:It was Oregon State's first win at Oregon since 1993...Ed Dickson finished with three catches for 17 yards for Oregon...Brown had two grabs for 48 yards for Oregon State.
Copyright 2007 Courtesy of The Sports Network.







