On a sun-soaked Saturday at Reser Stadium, the Oregon State Beavers had a chance to right the ship after a season-opening loss to Cal. Instead, they endured a self-inflicted collapse, falling 36-27 to Fresno State in a game defined by special teams blunders, late-game drama, and missed opportunities. The Bulldogs, now 2-1, capitalized on OSU’s miscues to secure a gritty road win, while the Beavers dropped to 0-2, staring down a daunting road stretch against ranked foes. What could have been a bounce-back victory turned into a frustrating display of what-ifs, as Oregon State outgained Fresno State 528-318 but couldn’t overcome its own errors.
The game started with promise for Oregon State, but early signs of trouble emerged. Fresno State struck first with a 30-yard touchdown run by quarterback E.J. Warner, capping a quick drive for a 7-0 lead. The Beavers responded on their next possession, with QB Maalik Murphy finding redshirt freshman WR Eddie Freauff for a 5-yard touchdown—Freauff’s first career score. But the extra point snap was botched, and the kick sailed wide, keeping it 7-6. It was the first of many special teams gaffes that would haunt OSU all afternoon.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-6 on a 44-yard touchdown run by Rayshon Luke, but Oregon State clawed back. Murphy connected with redshirt freshman WR Malachi Durant for a 10-yard touchdown—Durant’s first as well—though another botched snap led to a failed two-point conversion, making it 14-12. Kicker Caleb Ojeda added a 27-yard field goal late in the second quarter for a 15-14 OSU lead, but Fresno State answered with a punt return touchdown after yet another mishandled snap on a punt attempt, going into halftime up 20-15.
The second half saw Oregon State’s offense find its rhythm. An 11:16, 18-play, 75-yard drive—the longest of the season—ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Anthony Hankerson, pushing OSU ahead 21-20 after another failed two-point try. Fresno State reclaimed the lead with field goals of 34 and 28 yards from Dylan Lynch, making it 26-21. The Beavers drove deep but stalled, with Ojeda missing a 40-yard field goal attempt amid more snapping issues.
In the final minutes, Murphy orchestrated a frantic 68-yard drive in 49 seconds, hitting redshirt sophomore WR David Wells Jr. for a 34-yard touchdown to take a 27-26 lead with 1:19 left—though the two-point conversion failed again. Fresno State responded swiftly: Warner scrambled for 27 yards to set up Lynch’s go-ahead 43-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining. On OSU’s final play, Murphy’s desperation pass was intercepted by Jakari Embry, who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown, sealing the 36-27 final.
Murphy, the Duke transfer, showed marked improvement from Week 1, completing 31 of 48 passes for 371 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. His ability to extend plays under pressure and lead the late drive highlighted his potential, but the picks—especially the game-sealer—proved costly. Hankerson powered the ground game with 136 yards on 25 carries, surpassing 1,000 career yards at OSU and ranking 36th in program history. WR Taz Reddicks starred with 11 catches for 158 yards, while Trent Walker added seven receptions for 99 yards. The offense racked up 30 first downs and doubled Fresno State’s yardage, but penalties and red-zone inefficiencies (including 0-for-4 on two-point conversions) limited them to 27 points.
Defensively, Oregon State held Fresno State to one third-down conversion on eight attempts and kept them out of the red zone most of the game, forcing field goals on key drives. ILB Dexter Foster led with seven tackles (one for loss), while S Skyler Thomas and others contributed to containing Warner (13-of-18, 121 yards passing; 57 rushing). The unit allowed just six second-half points until the late scramble, but couldn’t prevent the Bulldogs’ final field goal setup.
The elephant in the room: special teams. Starting long snapper Dylan Black was sidelined with an undisclosed hand injury, thrusting backups Jackson Robertson and redshirt freshman LB Will Haverland into duty. The result? Five botched snaps on seven kick/punt attempts, including two missed extra points, a failed punt leading to a Fresno State touchdown return, and a turnover on downs. Coach Trent Bray, caught on a hot mic at halftime calling the unit a “joke,” later apologized: “My emotions got the best of me… I know Beaver Nation, kids, and families were watching, and you expect and deserve better from me.” Bray defended Haverland, noting he was thrust into an unfamiliar role after practicing it during the week, but the issues were a “headspace thing” for the group. Fresno State capitalized, turning OSU’s errors into 10 points.
This loss stings for a rebuilding Oregon State program. Despite offensive progress—over 200 more yards than Fresno State—the self-inflicted wounds (penalties, turnovers, special teams) echoed Week 1’s issues. At 0-2, the Beavers face a brutal stretch: at No. 24 Texas Tech (Sept. 13) and at No. 6 Oregon (Sept. 20). Bray emphasized eliminating “self-inflicted wounds” to unlock the team’s potential, but with injuries and inconsistencies mounting, OSU must regroup quickly. Fresno State, meanwhile, heads into Mountain West play with momentum, proving resilient under coach Matt Entz.
In college football’s unforgiving landscape, games like this can define seasons. For Oregon State, it’s a harsh lesson in execution; for Fresno State, a blueprint for opportunistic wins.
Key Takeaways
- Special Teams Catastrophe: Five botched snaps on seven attempts led to missed extra points, a punt-return TD for Fresno State, and a turnover on downs. Starting LS Dylan Black’s injury forced backups into action, costing OSU at least 10 points and the game.
- Murphy’s Growth Amid Mistakes: QB Maalik Murphy threw for 371 yards and four TDs, leading a late go-ahead drive, but two INTs—including a pick-six to seal the loss—highlighted decision-making issues under pressure.
- Offensive Balance Emerges: RB Anthony Hankerson rushed for 136 yards, while WR Taz Reddicks (11 catches, 158 yards) and Trent Walker (7 catches, 99 yards) paced the air attack. OSU totaled 528 yards and 30 first downs but went 0-for-4 on two-point conversions.
- Defensive Resilience with Late Lapse: OSU held Fresno State to 318 yards and 1-of-8 on third downs, forcing field goals in the red zone. But a 27-yard Warner scramble set up the go-ahead FG, exposing vulnerabilities in containment.
- Bray’s Halftime Outburst and Apology: Coach Trent Bray’s hot-mic “joke” comment on special teams drew attention; he later apologized for the language, emphasizing accountability and growth as a leader.
- Youth Steps Up: Redshirt freshmen Eddie Freauff and Malachi Durant scored their first career TDs, while redshirt sophomore David Wells Jr. hauled in the go-ahead score, signaling potential in a young receiving corps.
- Tough Road Ahead for 0-2 Beavers: With ranked Texas Tech and Oregon next, OSU must fix self-inflicted errors to avoid a deeper slide. Fresno State (2-1) gains confidence heading into Mountain West play.
