Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Bury Beavers, 44-24!!
9/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 2, 2001
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
FRESNO, Calif. - David Carr threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns as Fresno State repeatedly struck with its big-play offense to upset No. 10 Oregon State - the highest-ranked team ever to visit Bulldog Stadium - 44-24 on Sunday night.
Carr, who was 21-for-34, and his receivers delighted a frenzied sellout crowd and overwhelmed Oregon State's defense, which was the Pac-10's best last season.
Fresno State, which opened the season last week with a win at Colorado, posted its 16th straight home victory and made a strong case for its first national ranking since 1993.
Extra bleacher seats and a giant video replay screen were installed at Bulldog Stadium for what Carr said was Fresno State's biggest home game ever. Fireworks flew across the sky with each Fresno State score, and a party atmosphere developed when the Bulldogs' victory seemed assured.
After the final whistle, thousands of students stormed the field and tore down one set of goalposts celebrating Fresno's sixteenth consecutive home win.
Rodney Wright caught seven passes for a career-high 182 yards and two TDs, including a 32-yard score with 10:13 to play that gave the Bulldogs a 38-24 lead.
Oregon State (0-1) has national title aspirations, but the Beavers didn't look anything like contenders against Fresno State.
The Beavers committed 19 penalties for 129 yards, they also dropped several passes and blew simple assignments on both sides of the ball. Fresno State exposed the Beavers' terrible pass protection with a relentless pass rush that recorded several sacks and hurried many of Jonathan Smith's throws.
The Beavers, picked as the nation's top team by Sports Illustrated, were taunted with chants of "Overrated! Overrated!" starting early in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs snapped Oregon State's seven-game winning streak - the school's longest since 1966-67 - from last season, which included thrashing of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Beavers' 13-game winning streak against non-conference opponents also ended.
Ken Simonton, Oregon State's Heisman hopeful tailback, never got going. With several defenders keyed on him with every play, Simonton managed just 42 yards - his lowest total in 17 games - on 15 carries.
Fresno State came out roaring, scoring on its first two possessions and never trailing.
The Beavers' defense frequently seemed confused by Fresno State's wide variety of offensive sets. It was never more obvious than in the second quarter, when the Bulldogs lined up for fourth-and-goal from the 1 with three running backs.
With perfect misdirection, Carr faked a handoff and spiraled out for a play-action pass to tight end Jeremy Johnson, who scored easily to give Fresno State a 17-3 lead.
But Oregon State also managed several sustained drives, and Simonton kept the Beavers close with a 16-yard TD run 3:43 before halftime. It was Simonton's 49th rushing TD, tying him with Herschel Walker and two others for 14th place on college football's career list.
Fresno State went up 24-10 midway through the third quarter when Bernard Berrian made a diving 28-yard TD reception, beating all-Pac-10 cornerback Dennis Weathersby.
The Bulldogs scored again less than five minutes later when Wright caught a short pass, broke two tackles and sprinted to the end zone, diving over the goal line for a 70-yard play.
But Oregon State gave a last gasp with two scores on consecutive plays early in the fourth quarter. Seth Trimmer romped through Fresno State's secondary with a 65-yard TD catch that cut the lead to 31-24 with 12:27 left.
