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Cincinnati (1-1) at Oregon State (2-0)
Corvallis, OR - Beaver Nation was out in full force at Reser Stadium looking for Oregon State to avenge the embarrassing loss to Cincinnati a few years back. "I'm really looking to redeem myself for that game a couple years ago. We really want to beat these guys bad," OSU QB Lyle Moevao said on a local radio station earlier in the week. Moevao was referring to the first time these two teams met in 2007 in Cincinnati where the Bearcats blew out the Beavs 34-3. A game where both Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao each threw three interceptions. It was a signature win at the time for Brian Kelly's Bearcats but now Oregon State was looking to return the favor.
The Bearcats came in with one loss but that loss came against Rutgers on first game of the season which by all accounts the Scarlet Knights look like a good team, despite a scare earlier in the day against FIU. While Oregon State has yet to play any serious competion, but has still struggled in the passing game. The Beavers, in their last two games against Big East opponents have scored a combined six points between the 3-0 Sun Bowl win versus Pitt, and the 34-3 beating by the Bearcats.
Despite a loud Reser Stadium, the Bearcats were able to get a first down, but the drive stalled just inside OSU territory. Head coach Brian Kelly went for it on 4th and four at the OSU 44-yard line but failed. Momentum was riding high for the Beavers until the first play for Oregon State was a broken play that saw QB Lyle Moevao lose seven yards. On the next play, WR James Rodgers got the handoff out of the slot but could not turn the corner where he was pasted by the Bearcat defense, losing the ball to the turf. The Bearcats recovered and returned it to get out in front 7-0 as Reser Stadium fell silent.
OSU WR James Rodgers fumbles the ball for a Bearcat fumble returned for a touchdown.
Oregon State would not help matters on their next possession, going three-and-out. But Cincinnati could not take advantage of taking the crowd out of the game as the Beaver defense held the Bearcats to a three-and-out. Finally, OSU put a drive together mainly relying on Moevao to pass the ball. It was obvious early on that the Bearcats had made it a priority to stop Jacquizz Rodgers. However, Rodgers would end the balanced attack with a 2-yard touchdown scamper to tie the game 7-7.
OSU HB Jacquizz Rodgers with a 2-yard touchdown scamper.
But as the first quarter came to an end, the Bearcats were on the move into the red zone. To open the 2nd quarter, on 3rd and goal at the one-yard line, HB Jacob Ramsey trucked over OSU MLB David Pa Aluhi for a one-yard touchdown run to put the Bearcats back in front 14-7.
Cincinnati HB Jacob Ramsey trucks over OSU MLB David Pa Aluhi for a one-yard touchdown run.
Moevao would put together a decent drive in response, hitting WR Casey Kjos over the middle but he was just short of the goal line on a 3rd down play. Rather than risking not scoring, Mike Riley chose to kick the field goal to make it 14-10 Bearcats. With under a minute left, Cincinnati QB Tony Pike engineered an impressive drive as the Bearcats were able to kick a 30-yard field goal as time expired to make it 17-10 Bearcats at halftime.
It was pretty clear by halftime that these two teams were evenly matched, and the Beavers would have a hard time playing catch up because of the early fumble return. The 2nd half would start for the Beavers much the way the 1st half did as OSU was forced to punt when Moevao was sacked. Moevao was really starting to take a beating as the offensive line could not get the running game established and was not pass protecting well either. But OSU defense would force a three-and-out to get the Beavers the ball back. Then Moevao hit WR Casey Kjos over the middle to get OSU into the red zone. Where Moevao threw a strike to WR Darrell Catchings running a slant in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 17-17.
OSU WR Darrell Catchings with a 4-yard touchdown reception.
Oregon State was getting the momentum back as DT Stephen Paea was able to sack QB Tony Pike for the 2nd time of the day, forcing the Bearcats to punt after a three-and-out. The Beavers now had a chance to take the lead heading into the 4th quarter, but OSU would also go three-and-out. The fans were starting to get ancy as Cincinnati suddenly was able to convert on three consecutive third downs behind the passing of QB Tony Pike. Just as the Bearcats had crossed into the red zone, Pike lobbed a high arching pass to the corner of the end zone where WR Marcus Barnett caught the ball over his shoulders for an 18-yard touchdown to regain the lead for Cincinnati 24-17 with 4:33 left to go in the game.
Cincinnati WR Marcus Barnett with an 18-yard touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone.
The Beavers were in trouble and when Moevao was sacked yet again on 3rd down deep in OSU territory, the Beavers were forced to punt after another three-and-out with 3:44 left in the game.
OSU QB Lyle Moevao is sacked for one of the sixth times of the game.
It was up to the Bearcats to put this one away. The OSU defense could not get the Bearcats off the field as Tony Pike made clutch pass after clutch pass to keep the chains moving. Finally, Oregon State appeared to make a stop on 3rd down to force the Bearcats into attempting a long field goal, but a flag was down. "Personal foul," the referee announced. "Facemask on the defense. Fifteen-yard penalty. Automatic first down." Reser Stadium went beserk as the fans booed the officials. However, for the viewers on television, the replay clearly showed that FS Suaesi Tuimaunei grabbed the facemask.
OSU FS Suaesi Tuimaunei called for a costly facemask penalty.
With the penalty, the Bearcats drive was kept alive. However, the defense would hold, but Cincinnati would put a 25-yarder through the uprights to go ahead 27-17 which effectively ended the contest. Fittingly, the game ended with QB Lyle Moevao being sacked for the the sixth time of the game. After the game, Bearcat head coach Brian Kelly was available for comment, "This is a huge win for Bearcat football. We know how badly the Beavers wanted to win this game the way we beat them at our homefield a couple years ago. The Beavers are a good football team. We were lucky to play them early as they never get off to good starts. They'll win a lot of games this year so I can't tell you how excited I am that we beat these guys here in this stadium."
After this disappointing loss, Oregon State will start confernce play next week, hosting Arizona, a team that nearly beat OSU last year in Tucson.
Cincinnati 27
QB Tony Pike: 22-26, 247 yds, td
HB Jacob Ramsey: 15 car, 31 yds, td
WR Marcus Barnett: 3 rec, 65 yds, td
DE Alex Daniels: 9 tkl, 3 tfl, 2 sk
Oregon State 17
QB Lyle Moevao: 13-21, 180 ys, td
HB Jacquizz Rodgers: 16 car, 46 yds, td
WR James Rodgers: 6 rec, 65 yds, fl
DT Stephen Paea: 2 tkl, 2 sk
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