Braden Atkinson didn’t need much time to put Montana away, and he didn’t waste a snap once Oregon State got rolling.
The sophomore quarterback was sharp from the start at Reser Stadium, finishing 22 of 30 for 333 yards with five touchdown passes and adding a rushing score in the Beavers’ 52-17 win over the Grizzlies. By the time his night was over, he had already guided Oregon State to six touchdowns on seven drives.
The scoring spread around, too. Atkinson found Jesse Legree, Aeryn Hampton, Aaron Butler, Eric Olsen and DeCorion Temple for touchdowns, with each receiver finishing on the receiving end of a different scoring throw. It was only the 10th game in Oregon State history in which a quarterback threw five touchdown passes.
“He’s playing really unafraid and I love that about him,” Oregon State coach JaMarcus Shephard said. “He’s not afraid to take the chances and push the ball vertically up the field.”
One of Atkinson’s cleanest connections came on the opening touchdown, when he hit Olsen down the seam. He later got Hampton involved as Oregon State picked up the tempo after a long run, then delivered the play of the night with a 23-yard touchdown to Legree in the second quarter. Atkinson extended the play long enough for the freshman to shake free in the back of the end zone.
“We got the coverage we wanted and made the adjustment for him to take it over the top,” Atkinson said. “He did one hell of a job and (I) just knew he was going to be open.”
Atkinson said the production from his receiving corps ties back to Shephard and offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen, whose recruiting rebuilt much of the skill talent this offseason. All five of the pass catchers he threw touchdowns to were winter additions, just like Atkinson himself.
The numbers keep piling up for the Beavers’ quarterback. His third straight 300-yard game pushed him to 1,122 passing yards on the season, making him the first Oregon State quarterback to reach 1,000 yards through the first three games since Sean Mannion threw for 1,237 in 2013.
“He has a tremendous grasp of what we’re trying to do each and every week,” Shephard said. “I’m really proud of him. He’s continued to let the guys know that they could be confident in how they’re doing what they’re doing because he’s confident that he’s going to get them the ball in the right position.”
In Other News...
Braden Atkinson Just Delivered The Oregon State Breakthrough Fans Needed
The first win of the JaMarcus Shephard era finally arrived at Reser Stadium, and it came with the kind of breakout performance Oregon State had been waiting to see. Braden Atkinson set the tone by throwing for five touchdowns and adding another on the ground, while the Beavers also showed clearer progress in the rushing game and got useful work from the defense in a 52-17 win over Montana.
Atkinsons night gave the offense a different kind of confidence, one built on production, rhythm and explosive plays instead of just trying to survive early season growing pains. The larger context only adds to the significance of the result, because Montana came in with a strong rsum, and Oregon State needed a response after the kind of start that can easily linger if a team does not find something to build on. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Has A Clear Reason To Watch Oklahoma State's Injuries
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There was also movement along both lines, where offensive lineman Joseph Hanson and defensive tackle Iman Oates sat after getting hurt in the previous game. Even in a lopsided win, those absences matter to an opponent like Oregon State, which is trying to gauge how complete Oklahoma State might be once the injury picture settles. The Cowboys still have some practice-week progress to make before anyone knows exactly how deep that list goes. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon States First Win Under JaMarcus Shephard Changed The Mood Fast
JaMarcus Shephards first win as Oregon States head coach arrived with the kind of ease that can change a mood in a hurry. The Beavers rolled past Montana, and the performance had the look of a team that was starting to settle in on both sides of the ball, with offense and defense each doing their part and multiple players getting involved in the scoring.
Shephard has framed this season as foundational, and after this result there was a different energy around the program and a clearer sense of growing expectations. For a team trying to build something early in his tenure, the victory did more than just put one in the win column - it gave the Beavers a better feel for where they stand and what they can become. [Read more 🡒]