Corvallis, OR – After a back-and-forth contest which featured eight lead changes, Vernon Adams' two-yard rushing touchdown with 18 seconds remaining lifted the Eastern Washington Eagles to a 49-46 win over the Oregon State Beavers from Reser Stadium.
After Oregon State (0-1) took a 46-43 lead late in the fourth, Adams led the Eagles (1-0) on an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which resulted in his second rushing and sixth total touchdown of the game. The ensuing extra point snap was fumbled, leaving the door open for the Beavers to try and tie the score.
OSU's quarterback Sean Mannion completed two long passes to give his team a last-second field goal try, but Trevor Romaine's 52-yard attempt missed wide right, and the Eagles defeated a Pac-12 team for the first time in program history.
EWU became the first team from the Football Championship Subdivision to take down a ranked FBS opponent since James Madison beat Virginia Tech in Sep. 2010.
Adams torched the OSU defense, tossing 411 yards and four touchdowns on 23- of-30 passing while earning 107 yards and two scores on the ground. Ashton Clark reeled in nine passes for 155 yards and a touchdown while Cooper Kupp caught five for 119 and two scores.
Eastern Washington punted just once while manufacturing scoring drives of 49- plus yards eight times.
Mannion had a terrific game as well in defeat, completing 37-of-43 for 422 and three touchdowns. Storm Woods ran for two on the ground while Brandin Crooks corralled 13 catches for 196 and two touchdowns.
EWU got off to a good start, taking the opening kickoff and marching 54 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a Kevin Miller field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Jabari Wilson carried three times for 32 yards on the drive, including a 30- yard scamper down the right sideline.
The Beavers responded quickly when Mannion hooked up with Connor Hamlett in the endzone on play-action from a yard out. Mannion didn't miss a pass on the drive in five tries.
Midway through the first quarter, Adams went deep for Clark on 3rd-and-14 and found his senior receiver for a 49-yard pickup. Four plays later, Adams picked up 13 on a scramble down to the 4-yard line, but the Beavers defense held and forced another Miller three.
Following an OSU three-and-out, Adams lofted a pass down the left sideline for Clark, who made the catch in rhythm inside the 3-yard line and ran it in for a 24-yard touchdown, helping the Eagles reclaim the lead.
Romaine's 33-yard field goal brought Oregon State to within 13-10 with 10:23 left until halftime, but once again the FCS school charged back down the field and scored a touchdown. Adams completed four straight passes for 77 yards, the fourth of which went to Kupp, who made a defender miss before scurrying into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
Woods' two-yard rushing score to bring the Beavers within three came one play after Mannion found Cooks for a 48-yard completion down to the two-yard line midway through the second period.
Kupp's second touchdown reception, this time from 48 yards away, put EWU ahead 26-17. Miller's extra point try was blocked, but the Eagles' kicker got redemption at the end of the half, putting through a 36-yard field goal less than a minute before intermission.
OSU struck first out of the locker rooms on a seven-yard touchdown pass off play-action from Mannion to Cooks, capping a 10-play, 79-yard drive. The Beavers then gained the lead on Woods' second touchdown plunge a series later. A two-point conversation pass to Tyler Perry gave the home team a brief 32-29 lead.
The see-saw affair continued with EWU regaining the lead on its very next possession. Three plays after a 3rd-and-4 completion to Clark, Adams called his own number, ran 19 yards and dove over the goal line.
Early in the fourth, it was the Beavers' turn to cruise down the field for a score. Mannion hit four different receivers on consecutive throws to put OSU in red zone. After he missed Tyler Anderson, Mannion laid it off for Cooks, who made a defender miss and sprinted into the endzone.
Blair Bomber's first-career touchdown catch came a play after EWU picked up a crucial 4th-and-2. Facing fourth down, Adams rolled to his left and found Clark for a short completion. The Eagles snapped the ball quickly and Adams lofted a pass to Bomber, who adjusted and found the ball over his right shoulder before outrunning the defense.
With 4:50 remaining in the game, Terron Ward dodged two EWU defenders and lowered his head at the goal line. Ward fell forward and over the line for his eighth career touchdown, which put the Beavers ahead 46-43.
On the opening play of the ensuing possession, Adams danced around the pocket, temporarily lost the ball but regathered himself and threw off-balance to Shaquille Hill for an impressive 23-yard completion, setting up Adams' late- game heroics later in the drive.
Game Notes
EWU became the third FCS team this season to defeat an FBS opponent after North Dakota State upended Kansas State and Towson got the better of Connecticut ... This was OSU's school record 13th consecutive week ranked in the AP Top-25 ... 15 of the Eagles' first 26 plays went for 10-plus yards ... EWU outgained OSU, 625-527 ... Neither team committed a turnover.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.