Newberry’s dual 100-yard game powers Oregon State past Washington State, 48-30

AJ Newberry gained 105 yards rushing and 120 receiving, including an 88-yard touchdown catch, as Oregon State beat Washington State 48-30 on Saturday in Corvallis. The Beavers scored on three consecutive first-quarter possessions and won their fifth straight game.

Newberry became the first Oregon State player to reach 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game since Steven Jackson did it against Fresno State in 2003. His 225 yards from scrimmage helped the Beavers improve to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-12.

Braden Atkinson completed 23 of 38 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Two of those scores covered nearly the length of the field: a 90-yard throw to Jesse Legree in the first quarter and the 88-yard screen to Newberry in the second.

Jake Reichle opened the scoring with a one-yard run at the end of an 11-play, 62-yard drive. After Washington State punted, Atkinson found Legree on the first snap of Oregon State’s next possession. Caleb Ojeda then made a 48-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead.

The Cougars settled for a short field goal on their first scoring drive. Oregon State answered with Ojeda’s 46-yarder and Newberry’s touchdown, stretching the margin to 27-3. Owen Eshelman’s 40-yard scoring pass to Branden Ganashamoorthy brought Washington State within 27-10 before halftime.

Legree finished with eight catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns, extending his school record to seven consecutive 100-yard receiving games. His five-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter made it 34-10. Reichle later added another one-yard score to finish a 13-play drive that consumed 7:35, putting Oregon State ahead 41-16 with 11:40 remaining.

Washington State kept scoring behind Eshelman, who was making his first college start in place of Caden Pinnick. He completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and ran for 136 yards and a touchdown. Ganashamoorthy caught 11 passes for 147 yards.

Eshelman’s 20-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion cut the deficit to 41-30 with 1:37 left. Cornell Hatcher Jr. answered with a 16-yard touchdown run, and Isaiah Houi intercepted Eshelman in the closing seconds.

Houi also led Oregon State with 16 tackles. Takari Hickle recorded three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as the Beavers finished with 555 total yards and no turnovers.

Washington State receiver Darrius Clemons left in the first quarter and later returned on crutches, The Spokesman-Review reported. His outlook remained unclear in that report.

Oregon State has an open week before visiting Fresno State on October 31. Washington State, now 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play, hosts Boise State next Saturday.