Oregon State football: 3 takeaways from thrilling upset of Oregon
By Dante Pryor
2. Critical mistakes cost Oregon late in this game
It is funny how quickly a game can turn. The Beavers were the team making the critical mistakes early in the game. The Ducks turned three Beavers turnovers into ten points. Oregon State quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw two interceptions; Oregon could only convert one into points. Tre’Shaun Harrison fumbled, and the Ducks kicked a field goal.
The Ducks were ahead comfortably going into the fourth quarter, and then everything began to go wrong for Oregon. Not only did the Ducks turn the football over, but the Beavers also scored touchdowns on every one of those turnovers.
The difference in the game is the Beavers’ ability to score touchdowns when they forced mistakes by the Ducks. Oregon scored ten points off turnovers; Oregon State scored 21 points off of turnovers.
Oregon punter Alex Bales fumbled the snap, and the Beavers were able to score a touchdown. Oregon State scored a touchdown when Oregon turned it over on downs. Anytime you have an opportunity to score touchdowns in rivalry games, you have to take them. Oregon State could punch it in off of turnovers; Oregon was not.