LOS ANGELES — Waves of Oregon State fans drifted from the corner of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, lining up against the cement railing behind the bench as the Beavers polished off a 45-27 win over USC.
The players were all too eager Saturday night to celebrate OSU’s first road win over the Trojans in 61 years. It started during the final two minutes, when Alton Julian intercepted a pass to seal the win. But the big finish came shortly after the two teams met at midfield. Defensive tackle Cody Anderson yelled “Fight song!”
It was three minutes of pure joy, as Oregon State players and fans sang, embraced and celebrated. The Beavers soon departed for the tunnel and the locker room, where one player was overheard saying, “No practice tomorrow?”
Hardly. The work is just starting.
Oregon State (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) announced itself in a big way Saturday night. The Beavers punished USC (2-2, 1-2) with a rushing attack that led to a series-high 45 points. Quarterback Chance Nolan picked apart the Trojans, throwing for four touchdowns. OSU’s defense, stunned early by a cascade of penalties, bounced back to stall USC during the middle of the game as the Beavers built a 42-17 lead.
Saturday’s performance opens so many doors. The thought of a six-win season seems a minimum expectation now.
“We’re not done here,” Nolan said. “This is a good win for us. We’re gonna enjoy this one with our guys, but come Sunday, we’re back to work.”
Coach Jonathan Smith, who took over one of the country’s worst FBS programs in 2018, called the win “another step in the direction we’re trying to go, win on the road against good teams. Be able to physically win at the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively. I think it shows growth.”
Receiver Tyjon Lindsey, who caught two touchdown passes and is among some two dozen OSU players with Southern California roots, was thrilled as a local and a Beaver.
“It means the world to me. I literally dreamed this,” he said. “It just hits different when you get that win back at home, and then we get to take it back to Oregon State. We put the city on the map.”
The first Oregon State win in Los Angeles in six-plus decades was paved by an offensive line that overwhelmed USC. Of their 70 offensive plays, the Beavers ran 51 times. They were rarely stopped, as OSU had 324 yards on the ground, a staggering average of 6.3 yards per carry.
Running back B.J. Baylor, who ran for 158 yards, said in prepping for the game, they noticed USC often put two defenders in a hole, leaving some areas exposed. Not that it mattered what the Trojans were doing. OSU’s offensive line, one of the country’s most experienced, was determined to show its physical side.
“Offensive line, they played their butt off today. They do what they’re supposed to do. They were pushing the line of scrimmage,” Baylor said.
The win came together during the middle of the game. Trailing 14-7 with eight minutes left in the second quarter, Oregon State began a stretch where it scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions.
To drill down further, the Beavers scored touchdowns with back-to-back 92-yard drives to finish the second quarter and take a 21-17 halftime lead.
“That boosted our momentum to an extreme level,” Lindsey said.
Oregon State set itself to turbo coming out of the halftime locker room, scoring touchdowns on drives of 75, 59 and 64 yards to turn the game into a rout.
Though Oregon State’s 45 points is the most it has ever scored in the 79-game series, the Beaver defense contributed plenty to the win. It was difficult to watch at times, particularly during the first half, when it seemed like OSU was getting flagged on every other play.
But Oregon State never allowed USC’s offense to get a head of steam, holding the Trojans to 76 yards rushing while collecting a season-high four takeaways.
“That’s a mature group back there. They didn’t panic,” Smith said. “Look, there’s plenty of us to tighten up on the penalty end. I know that. There’s frustration that come from repeated flags. Those guys didn’t panic. They reloaded and continued to challenge receivers. … Those guys earned it.”
Smith said throughout the week they didn’t dwell on the 61-year, 24-game road losing streak to the Trojans. But he didn’t let it go unnoticed afterward, either.
“Let’s face it, you ain’t win in a place in a long time and you do, it’s great for them,” Smith said.
The takeaway from Saturday’s outcome? Some may think Oregon State has arrived. The Beavers think they’re just getting started.
“I guarantee you we’re gonna look like a way better team next week,” Lindsey said. “So tune in.”
-- Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
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