Oregon State Football: Keys to Victory vs Oregon
In this story:
Oregon State faces the most uphill of battles when they head to Eugene tomorrow. The 6th-ranked Oregon Ducks have put up 162 points through their first three games, and their starting defense is yet to be scored on. But the Beavers have pulled off an upset of this magnitude before in their program's history, when they defeated Washington in 1985 as 35-point underdogs.
Big Performances From Reddicks and Wells
Oregon knows all about Trent Walker, and they are likely going to be giving him quite a bit of attention. This means that other receivers will have to step up. Sophomores Taz Reddicks and David Wells Jr. have both shown plenty of flashes this season, and OC Ryan Gunderson will need these guys to get open tomorrow against an Oregon defense that allows little on the ground. Tight end Bryce Caufield, who is coming off of a career-best game against Texas Tech, will also be an important x factor in opening up the Oregon State offense.
MORE: Why Oregon State's 2004 Win Over The Ducks is Still Relevant Two Decades Later
Sustain Long Drives on Offense
In last year's rivalry game, the Beavers were able to hang around due to a couple of long, time-consuming touchdown drives in the first half. For the Beavers to have a chance in this one, they will have to give their defense sufficient rest and keep the Oregon offense off the field as much as possible. In order for this to happen, of course, Oregon State will need to figure out the run game. While the Ducks have a very strong front seven, they did allow over 150 yards on the ground last week against Northwestern.
MORE: What is Trent Bray's Future at Oregon State?
Make Things Happen on Special Teams
While this certaily hasn't been an area of strength for OSU this season, tomorrow would be a great time to start. In the Beavers' 52-42 loss in Eugene back in 2015, their upset bid was heavily aided by a Victor Bolden punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter. When they fell behind 14-0 at Autzen back in 2013, an impressive comeback was started after recovering a muffed punt. If the Beavers can have a big special teams moment early on in this one, it could give them a surge of momentum.
More Reading Material From Oregon State Beavers On SI
Ben Pahl is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in Portland, Oregon. His work covering college and professional sports has been featured by the Orange Media Network at Oregon State University as well as KBVR.fm. His other career stops in sports include the Portland Pickles baseball club and the NBA G-League's Rip City Remix.