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Full speed ahead

OSU's Sammie Stroughter prepares to run past EWU punter Ryan Donckers for a first-half score. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Anne M. Peterson Associated Press
OSU's Sammie Stroughter prepares to run past EWU punter Ryan Donckers for a first-half score. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Yvenson Bernard rushed for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Oregon State’s 56-17 victory over outmatched Eastern Washington on Thursday night.

Matt Moore threw for 88 yards and two touchdowns as the Beavers eased into their 13-game season with the home opener against the Division I-AA Eagles.

Oregon State jumped out to a 42-7 lead before halftime, and backup quarterback Sean Canfield saw extended playing time for the Beavers.

The last time the teams played was in 2000, when Oregon State narrowly came away with a 21-19 victory. It was an enlightening scare for the Beavers, who went on to an 11-1 season and a victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

They had no such trouble this time.

The Beavers capitalized on a fumble by Eastern Washington quarterback Chris Peerboom on the Eagles’ first series, and went on to score on Bernard’s 3-yard run.

Moore found Joe Newton with a 21-yard scoring pass on Oregon State’s next series. Bernard added a 16-yard TD run before Sammie Stroughter’s 51-yard punt return, and Canfield tossed a 35-yard scoring pass to Anthony Wheat-Brown.

EWU finally answered on Ryan Cole’s 9-yard run midway through the second quarter.

Cole, who played for Oregon State from 2003-04, was Eastern Washington’s top running back last season, rushing for 879 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had 13 carries for 29 yards against the Beavers.

Newton had a 4-yard touchdown catch before the break. Newton, who sat out last season after injuring his foot at the start of fall practice, finished with five catches for 57 yards.

Eastern Washington opened the second half with Brett Bergstrom’s 39-yard field goal.

The Beavers wrapped it up with Clinton Polk’s 15-yard TD run and Canfield’s 67-yard TD pass to Ruben Jackson.

Tony Davis returned a punt 60 yards for the final Eagles touchdown with 3:26 to go.

Canfield looked good in his college debut, going 11 of 15 for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and one interception. Moore completed seven of 14 passes.

Peerboom was 3 of 8 for 23 yards, while Matt Nichols was 9 of 18 for 117 yards and an interception.

Eastern Washington, which became a I-AA team in 1983, has a 7-13 all-time record against I-A teams. Its most recent victory was against Idaho in 2003.