Bulldogs piece together team win in Corvallis

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Fresno State defeated Oregon State 36-27 behind all three phases of the game, earning a win over the Beavers in Corvallis for the first time since 1991. With the win on Saturday afternoon, Fresno State moves to 2-1 overall on the season.

The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on all three phases, highlighted by a heads-up punt return for a touchdown from Jaden Carrillo and a game-sealing Pick-6 by Jakari Embry. Kicker Dylan Lynch was 3-of-3 on his field goal attempts on Saturday.

Defensively, Jadon Pearson had a career-high 16 tackles. Simeon Harris grabbed his first career interception. Embry also grabbed the first interception of his career.

How it Happened
Rayshon Luke returned the opening kickoff 31 yards, setting Fresno State up in ideal position on its opening drive. At third-and-4, E.J. Warner found Josiah Freeman for a gain of 20. Just three plays later, Warner scrambled and found an open alley to the end zone from 30 yards out.

Oregon State followed up with a touchdown drive of their own as quarterback Maalik Murphy found Eddie Freauff across the back of the end zone, but the Bulldogs maintained the lead as the snap for the PAT went beyond the holder. Fresno State led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Holding a small lead into the second quarter, the Bulldog offense took the field on third-and-long. Warner looked for Freeman downfield, but an overthrown pass fell into the hands of a Beaver defender who returned it 31 yards to shift momentum for the home team.

Oregon State cashed the turnover in for points, taking seven plays to go 59 yards for the touchdown. The Beaver special teams unit again miscommunicated leading to another missed PAT attempt. Oregon State took a 12-7 lead with 11:27 left before halftime.

Bryson Donelson escaped for his first big gain of the afternoon, getting out for 11 yards on the first play of the drive. Warner again hit Freeman over the middle for a gain of 14 yards. Just two plays later Luke turned on the jets for a 44-yard score to put Fresno State back on top, 14-12.

Oregon State made its way into the red zone, but a third down stop by Jahzon Jacks brought out the field goal unit for the first time in the afternoon. Oregon State converted the field goal, taking a 15-14 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Luke got out of the scramble in a hurry and made his way to the end zone but a holding penalty called it back. Fresno State was unable to move the ball, and brought out the punt team.

Defense forced a three-and-out, bringing out the Oregon State punt team. Chaos was soon to come as the Beavers had back-to-back false starts, pushing them back to their own 36-yard line. The Oregon State special teams units miscommunicated again, which saw a botched snap and grounded kick from the punter. The loose ball was scooped up by Jaden Carrillo, who ran it 42 yards for the touchdown.

With 40 seconds left in the half, Oregon State worked its way down into Fresno State territory but continued to kill its own momentum with back-to-back false start penalties. On third-and-20, Simeon Harris picked off Murphy at the Fresno State 17-yard line, ending the Beaver hopes at a final second score.

Fresno State led 20-15 at halftime.

Receiving the opening kickoff after halftime, Oregon State chewed up over 11 minutes of game time on their first drive which resulted in a touchdown. Oregon State chose to go for two, after missing its last two PAT attempts. However, the pass attempt sailed too far out of the back of the end zone. Oregon State took a 21-20 lead with 3:44 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs weren't able to find the end zone on their first attempt in over an hour of real time, but at the start of the fourth Dylan Lynch put Fresno State ahead with a 34-yard field goal.

After a 16-yard gain for the Beavers, Jayden Davis put them right back where they started with a sack for a loss of 11 yards. Oregon State couldn't come back from it, and brought out their punt team again which saw another tough snap and no forward punt. Fresno State took over on the Oregon State 21-yard line. Near the end zone, Fresno State was unable to capitalize and settled for a 28-yard field goal by Lynch to extend the lead to 26-21.

Oregon State made it down to the Fresno State 22 yard line, and was forced to try for a field goal after another sack by Jacks. The Beaver kicker missed on his attempt, keeping the lead for Fresno State. With a run effort, the Bulldog offense went 3-and-out on its next drive which left just over two minutes on the clock for Oregon State's offense to work.

The Beavers took just six plays to score a touchdown. They attempted again for the 2-point conversion, but failed and held on to a one-point lead, 27-26. With 1:13 left on the clock, the Bulldogs trekked downfield and in came Lynch for the lead. The lefty booted it in from 43-yards out, and put the 'Dogs up 29-17.

With 26 seconds left on the clock, Oregon State took the field. After a 19-yard completion, Murphy stepped back to pass again. Looking left, he threw towards the home sideline and saw his pass intercepted by Jakari Embry who had a wide open field in front of him for a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown with one second on the clock.

Up Next
Fresno State returns home to host Southern University on Sept. 13. Kickoff at Valley Children's Stadium is set for 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are available here.

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Team Stats

E.J. Warner

Players Mentioned

Jaden Carrillo

Jayden Davis

Bryson Donelson

Jakari Embry

Josiah Freeman

Simeon Harris

Jahzon Jacks

Rayshon Luke

Dylan Lynch

Jadon Pearson

E.J. Warner