CORVALLIS - Oregon State’s 48-30 win over Washington State on Saturday at Reser Stadium gave the Beavers their fifth straight victory, but JaMarcus Shephard spent much of his postgame session talking about the parts of the performance that still need work.
OSU moved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-12 and now heads into a bye week after handling the Cougars in Corvallis. Still, Shephard said the defense had opportunities to slam the door and didn’t fully capitalize.
He said the unit needs to do a better job tracking the deep ball after Washington State found some success through the air.
Shephard also pointed to “friction” in the game, saying Oregon State dealt with too many hits on Braden Atkinson and gave up too much running to Owen Eshelman. In his view, the Beavers “looked a little slow today and could see it early.”
There was also an injury note from the postgame. Shephard said TJ Crandall suffered a concussion. He added that Crandall “was in pretty good shape earlier” but that the issue came up late in the week, and he remains hopeful Crandall can play at Fresno State.
On personnel and effort, Shephard said AJ Newberry “played like he was frustrated” and wanted to find a way to play better. He also said Newberry was challenged to run behind his pads better and “looked like a man possessed” at times today.
Jake Reichle drew praise too. Shephard said when Reichle runs the ball “there’s a fire that’s ignited.”
Isaiah Houi, meanwhile, was singled out for having a strong game overall before snagging the late interception.
Shephard also addressed Trent Bray, saying he respects him and had even considered hiring him as defensive coordinator when he first arrived. “It was a quick conversation early on.”
As for the bigger-picture takeaway, Shephard said the team had to experience “real friction” and that “we needed that.” He also emphasized where his attention should be next, saying the focus needs to be on communities in Bend.
And in looking at the matchup itself, Shephard put the competitive edge plainly: “You can want to really beat another team and specifically try our best to beat coach Bray and appreciate what he’s done for this university.”
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Oregon State heads into its matchup with Washington State knowing the margins can get thin in a hurry against an opponent that has spent much of the season fighting uphill. Coach Shephard has stressed the need for intensity, and that message makes sense against a Cougars team that has found ways to stay motivated even through a difficult record. Washington State still brings enough pieces to make this more than a routine Saturday, especially with a quarterback room and supporting cast that can change the feel of a game if Oregon State lets the level drop.
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AJ Newberry Just Changed What Oregon States Offense Can Be
AJ Newberry gave Oregon State a different kind of threat in its 48-30 win over Washington State, and the numbers tell the story. Working both on the ground and as a receiver, he turned into a problem the Cougars never really solved, giving the Beavers a burst of versatility that has been hard to find at times this season.
Coach JaMarcus Shephard praised Newberrys performance and pointed to the way he responded after being directly challenged. The bigger significance is harder to miss for Oregon State: a player who can change a game in more than one phase suddenly gives the offense a wider range of options, and the kind of all-purpose night he just put together has not come along in Corvallis in a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State's Surging Offense Just Changed The Pac-12 Race
Oregon State kept rolling with its fifth straight win, taking down Washington State 48-30 in a game that showcased just how dangerous the Beavers have become on offense. Jesse Legree led the way with more than 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Newberry added a rare all-around performance with more than 100 yards both on the ground and through the air, giving Oregon State another week where the attack looked difficult to slow.
The matchup carried an extra edge because former Oregon State head coach Trent Bray was on the other sideline as Washington States defensive coordinator, facing the program he once led. For the Beavers, the result only added to a surge that has them suddenly looking like a team with real momentum in the Pac-12 race, and the way they generated big plays in multiple ways again suggested this run may be more than just a short hot streak. [Read more 🡒]