Oregon State finally put everything together Saturday night, and the result was the kind of lopsided win that can steady a season in a hurry.
Braden Atkinson did the heavy lifting in a 52-17 rout of Montana at Reser Stadium, throwing five touchdown passes and adding a rushing score as the Beavers gave first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard his first victory. Oregon State’s 52 points were its highest output since 2023, and they came against a Montana team that arrived 3-0 and ranked among the FCS’s best after reaching last season’s national semifinals.
The Beavers had opened the year with back-to-back one-score losses, falling at Houston and then at home against then-No. 13 Texas Tech. This time, they looked sharp from the start in front of 34,030 fans on a clear 64-degree night.
Atkinson wasted no time setting the pace. He finished 22 of 30 for 333 yards, and his five touchdown throws were matched by a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter that gave him six total touchdowns responsible for.
That tied the Oregon State single-game record and marked the first time a Beaver had reached that number since Jake Luton did it against UCLA in 2019. It was also the 11th time in 14 career games that Atkinson has topped 300 passing yards, and his season total climbed to 1,122 yards through three games - the fastest Oregon State quarterback has gotten past 1,000 since Sean Mannion’s 1,237-yard start in 2013.
He spread the ball around, too. Eric Olsen got Oregon State rolling with a 19-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, his first score as a Beaver. Aeryn Hampton followed with a 21-yard touchdown, the first of his college career, as Oregon State grabbed a 14-0 lead.
Jesse Legree kept his own hot streak going with a 23-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and finished with 100 receiving yards, his third straight 100-yard game. That hadn’t happened for a Beaver since Brandin Cooks strung together three in a row in 2013. DeCorion Temple added his first touchdown in an Oregon State uniform, Aaron Butler also found the end zone, and the Beavers were up 35-3 at halftime.
Montana did manage to score before the break with a 39-yard field goal from Jo Silver, then added two second-half touchdowns - a 2-yard pass from Keali'i Ah Yat to Reese Brooks and a 40-yard strike to Brooks Davis. But Oregon State answered every time. Cornell Hatcher Jr. punched in a 14-yard touchdown run, his first of the season, and Caleb Ojeda later added a field goal to finish things off.
The ground game, which had been nearly absent through the first two weeks, showed signs of life as well. Oregon State had managed just 26 rushing yards and 55 rushing yards in its first two games, but Saturday brought 144 yards on 32 carries. AJ Newberry ran for 45 yards and Tre Garrison added 56, helping support Hatcher’s touchdown.
The defense had its moments, too. Kai Wheaton picked off a pass in the fourth quarter, Takari Hickle recorded a sack and a tackle for loss to extend his streak of games with a TFL to seven, Drake Vickers posted a career-high eight tackles, and Aiden Sullivan’s six stops pushed him past 100 for his career.
In Other News...
Oregon State Has A Clear Reason To Watch Oklahoma State's Injuries
Oklahoma State rolled past Murray State 59-0, but the bigger takeaway for Oregon State was the lineup attrition behind that score. Several starters were held out because of injuries, which gives the Beavers a useful snapshot of how much depth the Cowboys are managing early and which positions could be worth tracking as the week moves on. Wide receiver Chris Barnes missed the game after dealing with a shoulder injury, while sophomore Terrence Lewis stepped in and made the most of the opportunity with two catches for 49 yards and his first touchdown.
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 🡒]
Braden Atkinson Is Changing Oregon State's Offense Faster Than Expected
Braden Atkinsons first three games have already given Oregon State a different kind of offensive feel, and Saturdays 52-17 win over Montana only added to the evidence. The quarterback completed 22 of 30 passes for 333 yards and five touchdowns, ran for another score and spread the ball around enough to keep the Grizzlies off balance, while coach JaMarcus Shephard praised his confidence and decision-making after the game.
The pace of the transformation is what stands out most. Atkinson has already cleared 1,000 passing yards this season, and he is doing it while quickly building chemistry with a wide receiver room that is giving the Beavers more answers than they had last fall. Oregon State has been looking for an offense that can stress defenses in different ways, and Atkinsons early command is making that search feel a lot shorter than expected. [Read more 🡒]