Beavers Get A Triumph, At Long Last Oregon State Tops Stanford To End 15-Game Loss Streak

Small wonder that Oregon State students and players celebrated as if they’d just clinched a trip to the Rose Bowl.

For the first time since their 1995 season opener, the Beavers were winners.

With a blitzing defense, a power running game and a freshman quarterback, Oregon State beat Stanford 26-12 Saturday, ending the longest current losing streak in major-college football at 15.

“We were so hungry for that victory, we were starving,” Beavers defensive back Marc Williams said. “And when you’re hungry, you’re going to find something to eat. We had a big lunch today.”

The Beavers tried not to talk about the losing streak. Coach Jerry Pettibone said he never brought it up. But it always lurked in the background of a downtrodden program that hasn’t had a winning season in 26 years.

“This streak has been highly publicized and it’s been weighing on our shoulders an awful lot,” Pettibone said. “It feels good to have it behind us and out of the way.”

Oregon State students flooded onto the field after the homecoming victory, surrounding the team in celebration, singing the school fight song, then tearing down one of the goal-post uprights and carrying it out of Parker Stadium.

Freshman David Moran ran for a touchdown and passed for another and the Beavers (1-5 overall, 1-3 Pac-10) sacked Stanford’s Chad Hutchinson 11 times, an Oregon State record. The Beavers had only four sacks all season entering the game.

“I think it was the finest defensive effort I’ve seen around here in six years,” said Pettibone, who improved his record at Oregon State to 12-48-1.

Hutchinson threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away twice in the first half as Oregon State took a 19-12 lead.

“I don’t know,” said Hutchinson, when asked what went wrong.

With the victory, Oregon State avoided setting a Pac-10 and school record for consecutive losses. The Beavers hadn’t won since a season-opening 14-7 win over Idaho a year ago. The win snapped a 12-game Pac-10 losing streak.

Stanford (2-4, 1-2) managed just 198 total yards, 27 rushing, against the Beavers’ blitzing defense. Oregon State rushed for 255 yards, Akili King had 85 in 22 carries, Kirkman 77 in 11 carries and DeShawn Williams 72 in 10.

Oregon St. 26, Stanford 12

Stanford 0 12 0 0 - 12

Oregon St. 6 13 0 7 - 26

OSUD. Williams 22 run (kick failed) Sta-Mitchell 57 pass from Hutchinson (Miller kick) OSUMoran 3 run (pass failed) Sta-Defensive conversion, Smith 100 interception return Sta-FG Miller 36 OSUD. Williams 17 pass from Moran (Stuckey kick) OSUKirkman 28 run (Stuckey kick) A-21,305.

Sta OSU First downs 13 15 Rushes-yards 39-27 57-255 Passing 171 48 Comp-Att-Int 17-34-2 4-9-1 Return Yards 25 20 Punts-Avg. 7-35.3 7-34.3 Fumbles-Lost 5-2 3-1 Penalties-Yards 4-20 9-84 Time of Possession 29:10 30:50

Individual statistics

RUSHINGStanford, Mitchell 13-75, Bookman 11-27, Salina 2-4, Hutchinson 13-minus 79. Oregon St., King 22-85, Kirkman 11-74, D. Williams 10-72, Moran 14-24.

PASSINGStanford, Hutchinson 17-34-2-171. Oregon St., Moran 4-9-1-48.

RECEIVINGStanford, Kirwan 7-52, Mitchell 3-68, Manning 3-14, Walters 2-15, Clark 1-13, Evans 1-9. Oregon St., D. Williams 2-35, Reynolds 1-11, Kirkman 1-2.