It wasn’t pretty, but Beavers will take the victory

By KRIS HENRY
Mail Tribune

CORVALLIS — Mike Riley has seen more than his fair share of football games in his life, but Saturday’s experience might take the prize as the biggest head-scratcher of them all.

It’s difficult to imagine a football team doing more and accomplishing less than Riley’s Beavers did in a 17-7, home-opening victory over New Mexico.

Oregon State compiled nearly 400 yards of total offense and the Lobos covered more ground walking back-and-forth to their locker room at Gill Coliseum, yet the outcome of the game remained in doubt until the final three minutes of the contest.

And even that final nail in the Lobos’ coffin was in question until OSU place-kicker Alexis Serna made good on a second chance with a 35-yard field goal.

"I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a game like that where everything looked like we could do it and the defense just got stronger and stronger and yet right until that field goal the game was in doubt," said Riley. "It was a strange feeling, and kinda darn discouraging."

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That sentiment carried over to the Beaver players, who, in looking for a silver lining, strained about as hard as a fan in the stands attempting to decipher OSU’s new jersey numbers.

"We didn’t play the best ball we’ve played all year but it’s a win and we love it," said OSU quarterback Derek Anderson, who completed 24 of 50 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

Few teams needed to exit the field on a winning note more than the Beavers (1-2).

They already had the heartbreaker: a 22-21 loss in overtime to then No. 3-ranked Louisiana State, in which Serna missed three extra-point attempts.

They already had the backbreaker: a 53-34 loss at Boise State in which OSU led 14-0 but did little right from that point on.

Now they have the head-scratcher, albeit a positive one in terms of final outcome.

"I could not believe the way that game was going," added Riley. "It absolutely had me dumbfounded because I wanted to feel better about it because I thought we were playing pretty well, but the score didn’t allow you to. Boy, I’m sure glad we won."

So in the grand tradition of taking lemons and making lemonade, here’s what the Beavers hung their hats on as they left Reser Stadium on Saturday:

New Mexico (1-2) advanced into Oregon State territory only once, and that was in its second series when the Lobos reached OSU’s 38-yard line.

The Lobos advanced as far as midfield on the first possession of the game and first in the fourth quarter, but otherwise that was it for a team averaging 365 yards of total offense entering Saturday.

"There’s a lot of pride in those guys," Riley said of his defense, which was torched for 492 yards last week at Boise State. "They took it to heart when people were talking about where was the old Oregon State defense. That shows the kind of pride that they have."

New Mexico’s 114 net yards was the 15th-best effort ever by an OSU defense in that category.

Oregon State tailback Dwight Wright had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career, totaling 108 yards on 30 carries.

"I think it sends a message that we can run and throw the ball," said Wright, who averaged 3.6 yards per carry with a long of 12 yards.

Ryan Cole added 19 yards on four carries, with the longest gainer of the day coming when Anderson scrambled for a career-best 21-yard run early in the second quarter.

OSU made a concerted effort to establish the running game by going to the ground on seven of its first 10 plays, and maintained that philosophy late in the second half in hopes of grinding out the win.

"We need to run the ball to win games," said Anderson. "We’re going to keep Dwight going and get Ryan in there to help control the game."

Riley and crew don’t have to worry about entering next Saturday’s Pac-10 Conference opener at Arizona State with a winless stench surrounding the Beavers.

"Had we lost there would’ve been so many questions about being 0-3," said the coach. "That would’ve been the emphasis of the week.

"There’s nothing like getting a win and building on that," he added. "You can’t get two unless you have one, and I know all of us will feel better about getting started tomorrow and the next day on heading into the Pac-10 and Arizona State."

They’ll feel better, just not totally secure.

"I’m still not sure what I saw today," said Riley, summing up the thoughts of an entire Beaver nation.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com