PULLMAN, Wash. -- Oregon State had just completed a methodical 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Ryan Nall to cut Washington State's lead to five points late in the first half.
But then the No. 21 Cougars answered by zipping down the field and into the end zone, before turning an OSU special-teams blunder into another touchdown. That flipped another close first half for the Beavers into another lopsided defeat, with Washington State pulling away to win 52-23 Saturday at Martin Stadium in both teams' Pac-12 opener.
OSU also sustained a significant injury scare when starting quarterback Jake Luton was carted off the field with an apparent head or neck injury after colliding with Washington State safety Jalen Thompson early in the fourth quarter.