Recap and highlights: Washington State’s offense stumbles in loss at Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Zevi Eckhaus stood still, his arms to his sides, a blank stare on his face. He looked emotionless in the backfield, the spot where he had just unfurled an overthrow, a critical mistake that was greeted with roars by thousands of Oregon State fans.
Early in Saturday’s fourth quarter, Eckhaus and the Washington State offense looked toothless. The Cougars were slogging through mud, operating out of rhythm, searching for answers: How do we snap out of this funk? How do we work around a depleted offensive line? How do we get Eckhaus to look more like himself?
After a 10-7 loss to Oregon State, WSU will have far more serious questions to answer, handing the Beavers their first FBS win of the season.
In the first of two matchups between these teams, the second of which is set for the end of the month in Pullman, a low-scoring affair came down to the leg of WSU redshirt freshman Jack Stevens. With a chance to tie the game from 32 yards out, he swung his kick wide right. The Beavers got the ball back and ran out the clock.
It added up to a stunning loss from WSU, which was favored by 3.5 points. The Cougars weren’t just squaring off with a Beaver team that opened the season with seven straight losses, leading to coach Trent Bray’s firing. They were also facing an OSU defense that was allowing nearly 33 points per game — No. 119 in the country. Their program has been roiled in struggles all fall.
None of that mattered on Saturday, when WSU managed only 96 yards in the second half, its offense unable to generate much of anything.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Beavers finally drew first blood in the second frame, getting on the board with a field goal. A little more than two minutes of game time later, WSU polished off a long drive with a short scoring plunge from running back Kirby Vorhees, who totaled 46 yards on 10 carries and the one score.
The game swung in the third. On one play toward the end of the frame, Cougar defenders couldn’t wrap up Beaver running back Anthony Hankerson, who broke free for a 37-yard rush — snapping his offense out of its own funk. Two plays later, Hankerson surged in from short yardage, vaulting OSU ahead, 10-7.
WSU’s offensive line was in tatters for this one. The Cougars were already playing guys out of position, moving left guard Jonny Lester to right tackle in the absence of their top two options at that spot, starter Christian Hilborn and backup Jaylin Caldwell. Then, in the second quarter, center Brock Dieu exited early with some sort of injury, prompting backup Kyle Martin to take his place.
Then the Cougs got creative later in the second quarter. After right guard AJ Vaipulu was hit with a false start penalty, coaches benched him for true freshman Trevor Bindel, who was making his collegiate debut. But that experiment became an on-and-off affair: Vaipulu reentered the game in the second half, only for Bindel to replace him in the fourth frame.
Eckhaus hardly looked like himself in Saturday’s game. His stat line is one thing: 13-for-24 passing for 146 yards and two interceptions. The way he looked was another. He appeared indecisive at times. He showed bad judgement at others. Early in the fourth quarter, he put a little too much on a bomb to receiver Josh Meredith, whose outstretched arms couldn’t reach the ball on a dive.
Even on another sequence, when Eckhaus rolled out on third down and spotted Meredith over the middle, he looked off. Eckhaus had to throw across his body, but he had made that throw tons of time this fall. No such luck on Saturday. He misfired, Meredith couldn’t reel it in and the Cougs punted — one of the seven times Ryan Harris had to boot it away on the night.
WSU (4-5) is off this coming week. After that, the Cougars will host Louisiana Tech on Nov. 15.
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First quarter
0:40 - WSU 0, OSU 0: The Cougars’ promising drive stalls after consecutive sacks taken by Eckhaus. WSU is forced to punt and OSU will take over at its 10.
12:45 - WSU 0, OSU 0: Zevi Eckhaus is intercepted by Jaheim Peterson on a throw down field intended for Carter Pabst. The Beavers will take over at their 17.
Second quarter
0:44 - WSU 7, OSU 3: After review, Kirby Vorhees scores a 3-yard touchdown to give the Cougars the lead just before halftime.
Eckhaus shook off his interception to account for 56 yards with his arm and legs on the drive.
2:52 - OSU 3, WSU 0: Caleb Ojeda drills a 35-yard field goal for the game’s first points.
6:36 - WSU 0, OSU 0: Eckhaus throws his second interception of the first half to Patterson who returns the ball to OSU’s 43.
10:20 - WSU 0, OSU 0: Eckhaus fumbles on the Beavers’ third sack of the first half. OSU will take over possession at its 14.
Halftime
Washington State bounced back from a tough first half on offense to take the lead on a Vorhees rushing touchdown.
WSU has totaled 175 yards but sacks and turnovers limited scoring opportunities.
Oregon State has a paltry seven passing yards and 78 rushing yards.
Third quarter
2:35 - WSU 7, OSU 3: Both teams have traded possessions throughout the third quarter with neither offense able to sustain drives.
Fourth quarter
1:05 - OSU 10, WSU 7: Jack Stevens misses a 33-yard field goal wide right. OSU regains possession at its own 22.
6:15 - OSU 10, WSU 7: Jeremiah Noga is stopped short on fourth down and WSU turns the ball over on downs. OSU takes over at its 33.
9:52 - OSU 10, WSU 7: Anthony Hankerson punches in a 1-yard touchdown to give the Beavers the lead.
Hankerson is up to 113 rushing yards and set up his short touchdown with a 37 yard run down to WSU’s 2.
Pregame
Washington State and Oregon State will duke it out again for the Pac-12 championship before the conference reshapes in 2026.
Washington State returned to .500 after beating Toledo at home handily. The Cougars’ defense has improved each week despite injury and most recently held the Rockets to 61 rushing yards.
On the other side, The Beavers are 1-7 and have yet to beat an FBS program this season.
Series history
Washington State is 57-48-3 against Oregon State. The Cougars lost the most recent meeting at Reser Stadium 41-38.
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