Oregon State holds off Colorado for 36-31 win

BOULDER, Colo. – Oregon State, with a well-deserved reputation as a strong passing team, leaned on its improved running game to pull out a tense Pac-12 victory over Colorado.

Terron Ward ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including a 10-yard score with 5:09 remaining, and Oregon State’s defense turned away Colorado’s last-gasp drive as the Beavers hung on to beat the Buffaloes 36-31 on Saturday.

“It’s very good to run,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “We all know it was kind of an Achilles’ heel for us until the very last part of season last year. It looked like good, balanced football today and that will help us as we go forward.”

Sean Mannion, bouncing back from a rough outing in last week’s loss at Southern Cal, completed 27 of 37 for 278 yards and his lone touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter to help Oregon State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) fend off Colorado (2-4, 0-3).

Storm Woods, complementing Ward, added 69 yards rushing and a score for the Beavers, who averted back-to-back conference road losses for the first time since 2003.

“We were expecting a battle, and as you saw, it was right down to the last possession,” Mannion said. “I think it was good that we could come right out after a tough, tough loss and handle a road game, handle the environment and handle a tough opponent and really play well.”

Sefo Liufau completed 32 of 49 for 308 yards and two touchdowns, both to Tyler McCulloch. But with Colorado facing a fourth down at the Oregon State 40 in the last couple of minutes, Liufau, with two Oregon State defenders in his face, threw incomplete. The Beavers took over and Mannion took a knee three times to run out the final moments.