MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – In a game that was eerily similar to the Stanford game two weeks ago, Oregon State broke open a close game with a big second half and went on to beat USC 45-27 Saturday night before 51,564 disappointed fans at the Coliseum.

That loss cost head coach Clay Helton his job and this one won’t cost jobs…not yet anyway…but did cause some embarrassment.

The Trojans were down 21-17 at halftime but the Beavers went on a 21-0 run in the third and into the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Things didn’t start well for the Trojans. Kedon Slovis was intercepted by Rezjohn Wright on USC’s first possession. The ball popped out of Tahj Washington’s hands and Wright was there to Corral it.

Oregon State then marched 61 yards on six plays. Chance Nolan hit a wide open Teagan Quitoriano with a 27-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.

USC responded with a five play, 75 yard drive. Slovis hit Gary Bryant Jr. With a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 7 with 8:14 left in the first quarter.

Oregon State again marched down to the USC 7 yard line on the next possession but Isaac Taylor-Stuart intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the scoring threat.

The Trojans took advantage of the turnover with a nine-play, 80 yard drive. Keaontay Ingram capped it with a 9 yard run with 13:23 left in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead. It was the only lead of the game for USC.

The Beavers wasted no time and got even less than a minute later on a 15-yard touchdown strike from Nolan to Tyjon Lindsey which capped a 10-play, 92 yard drive.

Oregon State grabbed the lead for good with 44 seconds left in the first half on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Nolan to Tre’Shaun Harrison.

The Trojans however had enough time to move the ball down the field to set up a 26-yard field goal by Parker Lewis as the clock hit zeroes. The Beavers took the 21-17 lead into the locker room.

The Beavers came out smoking ion the second half. Oregon State opened the third quarter with a seven play, 75-yard drive. Nolan connected with Lindsey again- this time on 16-yard touchdown toss for a 28-17 lead.

After a Trojans punt Oregon State lit up the scoreboard again. The Beavers drove 59 yards on five plays. Jack Colletto plowed in from a yard out to make it 35-17.

Slovis was hit while scrambling out of the pocket on the next series and coughed it up and Oregon State fell on it on its own 36 yard line. The Beavers drove 64 yards on eight plays with Colletto picking up his second touchdown of the night on another 1-yard run. The rout was officially on with Oregon State up 42-17 with the 21-0 blitz.

USC pieced together an 11-play, 75 yard drive. Ingram picked up his second score of the night on a 3-yard run to cut the Oregon State lead to 42-24 with 10:26 left.

Jaylin Smith then intercepted a pass for the Trojans with 8:28 left but all that USC could manage was a 46-yard field goal by Lewis.

Slovis threw two more interceptions in the fourth quarter trying to pass the Trojans back in it. Oregon State’s Everett Hayes booted a 42-yarder late in the game for the final score of the game.

Slovis was hurt by the three interceptions but did complete 31 of 49 for 355 yards and a touchdown running the air raid offense. Drake London had 10 receptions for 165 yards. Ingram rushed for 79 yards and two scores on 14 carries.

For Oregon State Nolan was 15 of 19 for 213 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw two picks. B.J. Baylor had 158 yards on the ground.

The Trojans hadn’t lost to Oregon State in Los Angeles since 1960. With the victory Oregon State improved to 3-1 while USC suffered the first loss under Interim head coach Donte Williams and dropped to 2-2 overall.