COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Rock bottom never felt so close Saturday at Falcon Stadium, where Oregon State’s offense didn’t get out of first gear.
Oregon State lost its fifth consecutive game and all but fell out of contention for bowl eligibility Saturday when Air Force flattened the Beavers 28-0 in Falcon Stadium.
The last time Oregon State was shutout was 2015 against UCLA.
Oregon State (4-6) managed just 175 offensive yards, and only 106 through the air. Air Force outgained the Beavers 288-99 in yardage.
Oregon State made another change at quarterback, as Ben Gulbranson didn’t make the trip for undisclosed reasons. The Beavers started Gevani McCoy, but he alternated series with Gabarri Johnson.
It didn’t matter. McCoy or Johnson were unable to get the offense going. Through three quarters, the Beavers had five drives that accumulated 78 yards, only 21 on passes.
Quarterback Quentin Hayes did all the damage Air Force needed by running for two first-half touchdowns. But it was the Falcons’ passing game that killed OSU. Hayes and Brandon Engel combined to complete 6 of 6 passes for 139 yards. Most came in third or fourth-down situations.
Oregon State must win its final two games, against Washington State and Boise State, to become bowl-eligible. The Cougars and Broncos are both nationally ranked.
Air Force dominated the first half to take a 14-0 halftime lead. The Beavers offense was dreadful, save for a couple of long quarterback runs. OSU managed only 69 offensive yards during the first half, which included runs of 18 and 16 yards by McCoy and Johnson.
Air Force meant business at the outset, driving 75 yards on 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard run by Hayes. The Falcons added to their lead with 4:45 left the second quarter on a 1-yard end zone sneak by Hayes. It was a back-breaking drive to Oregon State, which allowed Air Force to drive 97 yards on pass plays of 25, 29 and 32 yards.
Oregon State’s only first-half drive of note was its second, as the Beavers crossed midfield to reach the Air Force 45. But the Falcons quickly ended the threat when Camby Goff intercepted a Johnson pass at the Air Force 34.
Oregon State’s offense began the third quarter much like it played the first half: lifeless. The Beavers went three-and-out on their first series, and the punishment was a long, time-consuming Air Force drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock. No points were scored, as Isaiah Chisom forced Hayes to fumble, a ball that Skyler Thomas recovered at the Falcons’ 12.
That turned into a big nothing for the Beaver offense, which turned the ball over on downs at the Air Force 34. The Falcons then all but finished OSU with a 66-yard drive that produced a 1-yard touchdown run by Dylan Carson for 21-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Beavers failed to come up with anything for the remainder of the game, though the Air Force made one final statement during their eighth drive. After a series of successful carries, Owen Allen reached the end zone on a 2-yard rush up the middle with just over 3 minutes left on the clock. The extra point was good and the Falcons went up 28-0 on the demoralized Oregon State team.
Next up for Oregon State is its home finale, as the Beavers play Washington State at 4 p.m. Saturday in Reser Stadium.
--Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, [email protected] or @nickdaschel.
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