JaMarcus Shepard’s first win as Oregon State’s head coach arrived with no drama and no doubt.
The Beavers blew past FCS contender Montana 52-17 on Saturday night at Reser Stadium, putting together a complete performance in front of an announced crowd of 34,030 and snapping a five-game losing streak in the process.
Braden Atkinson was the engine all night. He finished 22 of 30 for 333 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball to five different receivers while pushing his season total to 1,122 passing yards. That made him the first Oregon State quarterback to go over 1,000 yards through the first three games of a season since Sean Mannion in 2013.
Oregon State wasted no time setting the tone. Atkinson hit Eric Olsen on a 19-yard touchdown and then found Aeryn Hampton on a 21-yard scoring scamper to put the Beavers up 14-0 after one quarter.
The second quarter only widened the gap. Jesse Legree pulled in a 23-yard strike early in the period, and DeCorion Temple turned a swing pass into an 11-yard touchdown with 5:17 left before halftime.
Montana did get one productive stretch from Eli Gillman, who ran for 35 of his 80 yards on the Grizzlies’ final possession of the half. That drive ended when Takari Hickle brought down Keali’i Ah Yat for a sack that knocked Montana out of field goal range.
Oregon State then delivered the back-breaker before the break. Atkinson connected with Hampton four times for 69 yards on the drive, then finished it himself with a one-yard touchdown run to send the Beavers into halftime ahead 35-3.
The fireworks kept coming after the break. Legree opened the second half with a 48-yard touchdown catch, and Aaron Butler followed by finishing a 41-second drive with a 27-yard score.
Legree, the nation’s leading receiver, posted his third straight 100-yard game, the first time an Oregon State receiver has done that since Brandin Cooks in 2013.
Ah Yat finished 27 of 40 for 215 yards and two touchdowns for Montana, which entered the game at 3-0.
Brady Jones and Maalik Murphy also saw action for Oregon State, which closes nonconference play next week at UTEP.
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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 🡒]