Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Oregon State University
Late Field Goal Lifts Football Over Oregon State
9/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 5, 2003
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
FRESNO, Calif. - Brett Visintainer kicked a 47-yard field goal with 31 seconds left as Fresno State rallied to upset Oregon State again, 16-14 on Friday night.
Marque Davis caught seven passes for 129 yards, and Jeff Grady shrugged off a rough performance to lead an improbable final scoring drive for the Bulldogs (1-1), who improved to 6-0 against Oregon State in Fresno.
"This was a big win for us," said head coach Pat Hill. "That was a very physical game. A very physical game. I'm very happy with our win and this team's performance. I can't think of better performance under tough circumstances. To have this win on national television against a good team is great for our program and the people of the Valley."
After failing to move the ball for nearly the entire second half against Oregon State's sturdy defense, Fresno State mounted a desperate drive starting at its 12 with 2:54 left.
After the Bulldogs reached the Oregon State 30 with a series of gritty passes by Grady, Visintainer easily split the uprights for his third field goal of the night -- and his college career. A vocal crowd of 35,556 roared its delight, and Visintainer -- who missed a 46-yarder in the second quarter -- was mobbed by teammates.
Grady, filling in for injured starter Paul Pinegar, was 22-of-49 with three interceptions and 276 yards.
"This was a good game for us. We have not had a lot of luck this year, so getting a win is very important," Grady said. "We can gain some confidence from this and get better. The offense was much better than it was last week and I think we will keep getting better. I'm alright but I'm sure I will be pretty stiff and sore in about 20 minutes."
Steven Jackson rushed for 128 yards and caught five passes for 116 more for the Beavers, who couldn't survive Derek Anderson's five interceptions and their 14 penalties for 128 yards. Anderson was 15-for-44 285 yards.
Fresno State got a surprising win over the talented Beavers for the second consecutive time in Bulldog Stadium. The previous win was arguably the biggest in school history: a shocking 44-24 victory over then-No. 10 Oregon State in 2001.
Oregon State went ahead 14-13 on Mike Hass' 39-yard TD catch with 3 seconds left in the third quarter, but the Beavers failed to score on two opportunities from the Fresno State 1 a few minutes later. Kirk Yliniemi's 20-yard field goal was blocked - and after a penalty gave the ball back to Oregon State, Jackson was stuffed on a fourth-down rush.
Bernard Berrian caught a 30-yard TD pass in the home opener for the Bulldogs, who managed just 21 total yards between their first and final drives of the second half.
Both quarterbacks were terribly sloppy, combining for seven interceptions in the first half - including three in the final 3:47 by Anderson. Fresno State's Dee Meza and Oregon State's Mitch Meeuwsen got two apiece.
Jackson rushed for 50 yards during a first-quarter scoring drive capped by his 4-yard TD run, but the Bulldogs finally got rolling with a five-play, 96-yard drive midway through the second quarter. Berrian, weakened by a virus and held out of the first quarter, slipped behind Oregon State's safeties for a 30-yard score.
Anderson wasn't the only one making big mistakes. Oregon State committed eight penalties for 83 yards in the first half, including two 15-yard penalties on left tackle Brandon Lockheart for a late hit after Rodney Marshall got the Bulldogs' fourth interception 20 seconds before halftime.
The penalties helped set up Visintainer's first field goal, giving Fresno State a 10-7 halftime lead.
"That would have been good from 57 yards," Hill said. "He hit is straight and true. All of our special teams were good tonight. Our special teams have played very well through the first two games."
