Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO, Utah -- Fourth Quarter:Riley Nelson is not in game shape. It started to show in the 4th quarter when the Cougars, thanks to Nelson, ran out of any semblance of a chance to stay in this football game. Nelson said he was not up to his conditioning level that he had before his back injury and it showed.
His passes were coming up short and he was unable to scramble like he could earlier in the game and the BYU defense was not up to stopping the Beavers in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Even though it was close in the 4th Quarter (21-21 to start), the defense collapsed on run stopping and gave up more big plays. A poorly thrown ball by Riley Nelson was deflected and returned 47 yards for a touchdown to make the game out of reach and Nelson proceeded to throw another pick on the ensuing drive.
The crowd either booed or filed out of the stadium.
Some did both. The Offense produced more yards and points than they have against previously decent opponents, but the turnovers (3 Nelson INTs) were horrendous and the defense showed that if they aree kept off balance with a decent running game and brilliant backup QB arm, they are very vulnerable. The Beavers lived up to their hype coming into Provo and throwing big punches in the form of big plays and a knockout blow in the 4th quarter. When BYU travels to South Bend things don't get any easier in one of the toughest places to play in college football. BYU fans need to hope that Riley Nelson does a few wind sprints this week.
Third Quarter: Two steps forward, two steps back is the name of the third quarter for BYU. The running game picked up for the Beavers who were able to get large chuncks of yards on the ground unlike any other team against BYU this season.
A 16 yard touchdown run by OSU put BYU back behind 21-14 but were ablke to tie it back up with another nice drive capped off by a Jamaal Williams run. A big 60-yd pass by Cody Vaz put Oregon State inside the 10 and a little bit of luck gives them a touchdown when a deflected pass by Kyle VanNoy turns into a touchddown on a jump ball.
Lady luck was on their side on that play, but the fact of the matter is Oregon State keeps responding to BYU's offensive production and the defense has been unable to respond.
Until the defense can string a couple of stops together in the second half, the Cougars will have to keep playing catch-up.
Halftime: The second frame slowed down considerably from the scoring display in the first quarter thanks mostly to better pressure on Cody Vaz. The defense got some solid stops and looked much more like the denfese that the rest of the country was used to seeing.
BYU and Riley Nelson held on to the ball for a lot longer time in the second quarter and that helped keep Vaz off the field but an ugly interception by Nelson stalled one drive for BYU.
The Cougars get the ball back and convert two fourth down attempts including a 4th and goal where Riley Nelson converts from two yards out to TE Devin Mahina. 14-14 is how it plays out going into the locker room.
Riley Nelson has managed the game OK but certainly not great. He has kept BYU with the ball in hand with two important scoring drives but has made 2 terrible option pitches that could have easily been fumbles and each throw he puts in the air is a prayer.
The success for BYU on offense came when Nelson could make quick throws for 5-8 yards a pass and keep the no-huddle going. The defense needs to stay solid and Nelson needs to make sure that he doesn't turn that ball over in the second half to give BYU a chance to beat the Beavers.
First Quarter: Most folks, even oddsmakers, sort of dissmissed Oregon State QB Cody Vaz since he has never started a game at the collegiate level before today.
There is a reason, however, that Beaver Head Coach Mike Riley has so much confidence in Vaz and he showed it on his first drive against BYU.
Throwing a perfect 5/5 and 75 yards and a score in the first 3 minutes of the game. Up 7-0 early, it was the first TD the Cougar defense has given up in a given up since September 15th against Utah. Enter Riley Nelson who equaled Vaz's effeciency and drove BYU right down the feild and scored on the Beaver defense with a pitch to Jamaal Williams.
Nelson isn't making fans or coaches feel comfortable with already 4 rushes in the first quarter. But the BYU defense that has been so stout gave up two big plays in a row and Vaz hooked up with Markus Wheaton for another touchdown through the air.
What a difference a year makes for this Oregon State team who was only 3-9 last season. Their backup Quarterback is slicing up this BYU defense like he's one of the elite in the sport.
First Quarter ends 14-7 and your MVP is Cody Vaz. 8 for 10 passing with 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. Most QBs have had a hard time putting those types of numbers up in a single game against BYU. That defense is going to hav to wake up and Riley won't last very long if he keeps running that ball. Throw it away, Riley,
