Nall runs for 4 TDs in Oregon State’s 34-24 win over Oregon
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Ryan Nall rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns, and the Oregon State Beavers snapped an eight-game Civil War losing streak with a 34-24 victory over the rival Oregon Ducks on Saturday.
Marcus McMaryion threw for 101 yards and another score as the Beavers finished their second season under coach Gary Andersen at 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-12.
Afterward, fans stormed the field at Reser Stadium and someone hoisted up Nall in victory.
“All of the sudden I’m in the air,” he said. “I was just taking in that moment. It was amazing.”
Oregon (4-8, 2-7) will end its disappointing season in the basement of the Pac-12 North, a dramatic fall for a team that just two seasons ago played in the first College Football Playoff championship game.
True freshman Justin Herbert, starting in his sixth game after taking over for graduate transfer Dakota Prukop, threw for 180 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks, who won’t play in the postseason for the first time since 2004. Royce Freeman, who had seen mention as a preseason Heisman candidate, ran for 106 yards.
Afterward, Ducks coach Mark Helfrich was asked if he felt his job was safe.
“Nobody’s job is safe in college football,” he said. “That’s just the nature of the beast.”
Oregon was boosted going into the Civil War by a 30-28 upset of then-No. 11 Utah last weekend, a win that momentarily silenced talk about Helfrich’s future.
The Beavers had momentum, too, coming off a 42-17 victory over Arizona at Reser Stadium last Saturday night.
Oregon State opened the scoring on Nall’s 12-yard touchdown run. The Ducks answered on the next series with Tony Brooks-James’ 3-yard TD run, then pulled ahead on receiver Jalen Brown’s reverse pass to Carrington for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Beavers pulled even at 14 on McMaryion’s 6-yard pass to Ricky Ortiz. McMaryion was pressed into duty as a starter for the Beavers earlier this season after both Darell Garretson and backup Conor Blount were injured.
The Ducks were efficient from the start of the second half, taking the lead on Herbert’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Charles Nelson. Aidan Schneider’s 46-yard field goal extended the lead for the Ducks.
But Nall scored again on a 14-yard run to narrow it for the Beavers. He added a 6-yard touchdown with 9:40 left in the game, then scored his fourth, a 2-yard dash, with just under two minutes to go. Nall finished the season with 14 touchdowns despite being hampered by a foot injury.
“Ryan is a workhorse,” Andersen said. “You keep pounding the ball, good things are going to happen.”
Herbert appeared to connect with Johnny Mundt in the end zone with 41 seconds to go, but Mundt dropped the ball, ending the Ducks’ last chance.
“We knew we were going to win,” Beavers safety Devin Chappell said.
“Definitely,” added cornerback Treston Decoud.
It was the first sellout at Reser Stadium since the 2014 Civil War.