Oregon State Stages Comeback 10-7 Win vs. WSU

CORVALLIS, Ore. – No. 18 Oregon State orchestrated a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback Saturday, defeating Washington State 10-7 in a hard-fought Pac-12 contest at Reser Stadium. Running back Anthony Hankerson emerged as the hero for the Beavers, delivering a game-winning 4-yard touchdown run late in the final quarter, capping a dominant individual performance with 132 rushing yards on the day.

The victory moves Oregon State to 7-1 overall and an impressive 4-1 in Pac-12 play, maintaining their strong position in the conference standings. For Washington State, the narrow loss drops their record to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference action.

The Cougars struck first, silencing the home crowd in the opening quarter when quarterback John Mateer connected with wide receiver Kyle Williams for a 6-yard touchdown pass, giving WSU an early 7-0 lead. The Beavers struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half, with their only points coming from a 24-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington in the second quarter, making it 7-3 at halftime.

“Our defense kept us in it all day long, and our guys just refused to quit,” said Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith after the game. “We knew we had to find a way in the fourth quarter, and Anthony Hankerson stepped up big time. He ran with incredible purpose and our offensive line really opened some holes for him.”

Indeed, the game remained a defensive slugfest through the third quarter, with both teams trading punts and neither able to generate significant scoring threats. Heading into the final 15 minutes, the Beavers still trailed 7-3, facing a resilient Washington State defense that had contained their potent offense for much of the afternoon.

The momentum shifted decisively in the fourth quarter when Hankerson, who had been consistently gashing the Cougars’ defense for chunk yardage, found the end zone. His crucial 4-yard touchdown run, which capped a methodical drive by the Oregon State offense, gave the Beavers their first lead of the game at 10-7. The Reser Stadium crowd erupted, sensing the turn of the tide. The Beavers’ defense then held strong, thwarting Washington State’s attempts to mount a final drive.

“The offensive line did an amazing job creating that space for me,” Hankerson commented on his game-winning score. “I just saw the opening and hit it as hard as I could. It’s an incredible feeling to contribute to a win like this, especially against a rival.”

Washington State head coach Jake Dickert acknowledged the tough outcome. “It was a hard-fought game on both sides. Credit to Oregon State for making the plays when it mattered most in the fourth quarter. We had opportunities, but we just couldn’t capitalize. We’ll review the film, learn from this, and be ready for next week.”

This intense matchup marked the first of two scheduled meetings between these long-standing Pac-12 rivals this season, adding a unique chapter to their storied history.

Looking ahead, No. 18 Oregon State will aim to continue their conference success as they travel next Saturday, November 2nd, to face California. Washington State will look to rebound as they return home to Martin Stadium to host Stanford, also on November 2nd. Game times and broadcast information for both matchups are expected to be announced early next week and will be available on Pac-12.com.