Beavers Capture Statement Victory at USC, 45-27

Oregon State defeats USC 45-27 Saturday night for their first win at USC since 1960.

Not just a dominant victory but the best win of the growing Jonathan Smith era. Smith, a USC fan growing up, coached a near-perfect game and while USC has 46 four-star and five-star recruits on their squad and Oregon State only has seven; Oregon State looked the tougher, more prepared, and a flat-out the better team.

OSU made an emphasis to set the ground game early and supplemented with a good amount of deception from Offensive Coordinator Brian Lindgren the Beavers were able to crush USC on the ground 322 to 76. Oregon State outgained USC 535 to 431 overall.

In the first half, Oregon State was the aggressor but USC hung with the fiery Beavers. Chance Nolan tossed three first-half touchdowns: one to his TE Quitoriano to make 7-0, in the second quarter to Tyjon Lindsey to tie the game at 14, and capping off 43-second, 92-yard drive he found Tre’Shaun Harrison for a 36 yard TD.

The Beavers had the momentum going to the visiting locker at the half and OSU certainly did not settle, scoring a whopping 21 unanswered points on the Trojans in just over a quarter’s work.

Nolan tacked on his fourth TD and the second to Lindsey to make it a two-score game but the following unanswered scores to make it 42-17 belonged to QB runs from Jack Colletto. Colletto did more than just run for TDs, getting the game-clinching interception with 2:43 left. B.J Baylor, while not on the box score with a touchdown, danced all over the Trojans for seven yards per carry with 158 total on the ground.

USC mounted a slight comeback late, scoring two touchdowns in the fourth, but the mountain was too tall to climb for Kedon Slovis and company.

Entering the night USC was 63-11-4 all-time against OSU and in the Beavers were 11-point underdogs but the historic upset puts Oregon State at 3-1 while alerting the PAC-12 to a threat in Corvallis.

The disappointment for USC continues and their perceived NFL-first round QB Kedon Slovis did not impress again with three interceptions. Next for the Trojans is flying to the Rockies to face Colorado at Folsom Field. Oregon State, with their biggest win in years, looks to continue the momentum at home against Washington.

Oregon State Statistical Leaders:

QB: Chance Nolan- 15/19, 213yds, 4TD, 2INT

RB: B.J Baylor- 23car, 158yds

WR: Tyjon Lindsey- 5rec, 102yds, 2TD

WR: Tre’Shaun Harrison- 4rec, 52yds, 1TD

QB/LB: Jack Colletto- 3car, 8yds, 2TDs, 1INT

USC Statistical Leaders:

QB: Kedon Slovis- 31/49, 355yds, 1TD, 3INT

RB: Keaontay Ingram- 14car, 79yds, 2TD

WR: Drake London- 10rec, 165yds