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| Cody Vaz shows patients when throwing the ball, even if he has to take the hit afterwards. Courtesy: Daily Herald |
The LBCC Commuter
Video/Sports Editor
Cody Vaz looked poised and unconcerned while taking over the starting job for the Beavers and showed the whole team that the are a single driving unit with whoever is leading the offense. Passing for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns (first start since being a high school senior), Vaz lead a high-octane offense that walked all over BYU’s highly-touted defense.
This is the first time since 1939 that the Oregon State Beavers have been 5-0 in a season and the first time since 2002 they have been ranked in the top 10. With the momentum building for the Beavers, many are attributing the success of this team to Coach Mike Riley, who has been a huge inspiration to the Oregon State Football Program.
Going into the game, there was a lot of concern about how well the Beavers would do in the absence of starting quarterback, Sean Mannion, after an injury sustained in last week’s win over Washington State. He is said to return in four weeks, but many speculate it could be longer. Vaz quieted all the doubters as he performed in a tip-top shape, throwing the confident deep ball and giving up no turnovers. In this year’s training camp (the longest college camp in NCAA history due to the postponed Nicholls State game), Vaz and Mannion were neck-in-neck for the starting position. This game against BYU showed exactly why.
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| "We're going to go with the game with Cody," said Head Coach Mike Riley in an interview with the media on Monday, Oct. 8. Courtesy: Daily Herald |
On defense, the Beavers did allow a lot of red zone touchdowns and gave up their first score to any opponent in the first quarter this year. Nevertheless, the Beaver defense gave a good fight, picking Nelson 3 times (Rueben Robinson for a no gain, Jordan Poyer for a 47-yard return TD, and Rashaad Reynolds for a 22 yard return) and 4 sacks for the defense, 2 of which were by Scott Crighton. The defense did give up 2 rushing touchdowns, but held the Cougars to just 81 yards rushing, averaging at 2.5 yards a carry.
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| Riley Nelson runs with authority but takes many hits from the notoriously physical Beaver defense. Courtesy: Daily Herald. |
What was entirely surprising was the fact that Vaz was leading a fast-paced offense, moving the ball down the field effectively. On all the Beaver’s scoring drives, the longest was 3:46. Also, this is the highest scoring game the Beavers have recorded since Oct. 22nd of last year. Upon that, Oregon State recorded a 450 yards of offense; lead by Vaz, Brandin Cooks (8 receptions, 132 yards) Markus Wheaton (5 receptions, 66 yards, 1 rush, 12 yards and 3 TDs) and Storm Woods (11 rushes, 57 yards and 1 TD).
On defense, the Beavers did allow a lot of red zone touchdowns and gave up their first score to any opponent in the first quarter this year. Nevertheless, the Beaver defense gave a good fight, picking Nelson 3 times (Rueben Robinson for a no gain, Jordan Poyer for a 47-yard return TD, and Rashaad Reynolds for a 22 yard return) and 4 sacks for the defense, 2 of which were by Scott Crighton. The defense did give up 2 rushing touchdowns, but held the Cougars to just 81 yards rushing, averaging at 2.5 yards a carry.
Brigham Young did play tough, matching the Beavers touchdown as senior quarterback Riley Nelson takes over after starting quarterback. Tayson Hill is out for the season due to a left-knee injury. Nelson, who was the starter in the beginning of the season, was benched after a sustaining a back injury from a hit he took on a sneak. Before this game, Nelson had 5 touchdowns and interceptions on the season. His inability to slide and the amount of hits he takes during the game became a concern for the BYU coaching staff. Hill, a freshman, took over the starting job and kept it even as Nelson returned back to health. Nelson finished the game with 305 yards passing, 29 yards rushing, a touchdown and 3 interceptions.
With Vaz playing great game on the road and the defense having playing in the clutch, the Beaver Nation will be looking forward for more progress as they host Utah on Oct. 22.
Game Recap:
On the first drive of the game, Vaz connects with three different receivers (Brandin Cooks, Corey Hamlett, and Markus Wheaton) before he throws a 12 yard lob pass in the endzone to Wheaton to cap a 6 play, 75 yard drive to put the Beavers up, 7-0.
Nelson lead ferocious ground attack the next drive all the way to the Beaver’s 1 yard line. Running back Jamaal Williams took one up the middle to tie the Beavers at 7-7 as he capped a 10 play, 75 yard drive for the Cougars.
With 3:29 to play in the first quarter, Vaz comes out gunning as he completes a beautiful lob to Brandin Cooks for a 49 yard completion and a 24 yard touchdown to Wheaton (his second of the day). The drive went 2 plays, 67 yards as the Beaver’s lead, 14-7.
Into the second quarter, BYU gets great field position at the Oregon State 30-yard line. After a couple go-head completions, Nelson fumbles the ball on a option play, but ends up recovering the ball. With 4 & goal at the Oregon State’s 2 yard line, Nelson connects with Devin Mahina for the touchdown, tying the game at 14-14. The game would continued to be tied going into halftime
Third quarter, Vaz completes a 29 yard pass to Hamlett to set up the Beavers with 1st down at the BYU 16 yard line. Oregon State gets the running game working as Storm Woods rushes for a 16 yard touchdown. A 10 play, 81 yard drive as the Beavers take the lead 21-14.
Next drive, BYU doesn’t give up against Oregon State. Penalties move the ball up to the Beaver’s 2 yard line (5 yard substitution infraction, 5 yard offside on Rudolf Fifita, and a 10 yard pass interference on Jordan Poyer). Jamaal Williams takes the easy run to cap a 9 play, 75 yard play for BYU, again tying the game at 21-21.
End of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th quarters, Vaz recovers from a sack by Romney Fuga as he completes a 59 yard pass to Brandin Cooks to set the Beavers up in the BYU red zone. As a pass intended for Wheaton is tipped, Tight end Colby Prince grabs the jump ball in the end zone as the Beavers luckily scored to jump ahead 28-21; an 8 play, 77 yard drive for the Beavers.
With 11:55 left in the game, Nelson leads a charge to down to the Oregon State 18 yard line, but is stopped by Scott Crighton sack for an 8 yard loss that forces a BYU field goal. Justin Sorensen hits a 35 yarder to end a 10 play, 69 yard drive as Oregon State keeps the lead at 28-24.
8:55 left in the game, penalties plague both teams. Oregon State’s Collin Kelly is called for a back-to-back false start and holding penalties. These were soon overlooked as BYU was called for 2 consecutive pass interference calls that brought the Beavers to the BYU 12 yard line. On an excellent play call, Vaz faked the handoff up the middle to Malcolm Agnew, hands off to sweeping Cooks in the backfield, who tosses it to Markus Wheaton for a double reverse that ends with a 12 yard rushing touchdown. That was Wheaton’s third touchdown of day to put the Beavers ahead 35-24.
The game didn’t get any better for BYU. With 5:30 left in the game, Nelson hits a 35 yard completion to Williams to keep the momentum going for BYU. Next play, Nelson’s tipped pass is intercepted by Jordan Poyer, who returns it for a 47 yard touchdown, extending the lead to 42-24.
Last BYU drive of the game, Crighton records his second sack of the night for a loss of 6. Next play, Nelson throws an interception right to Rashaad Reynolds, who returns it for 22 yards. After a couple running plays and a first down conversion, Vaz takes the knee on the BYU 14 to end the game at 42-24. Beavers remain undefeated as they play Utah in Corvallis next weekend.
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