Oregon State
1-0
Eastern Ky
0-1
Beavers Blow Out Eastern Kentucky
August 29, 2002 | Football
Aug 29, 2002
CORVALLIS, Ore. - A few mistakes didn't hurt quarterback Derek Anderson in his first start for Oregon State.
Anderson completed 15 of 26 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns as the Beavers routed Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky 49-10 on Thursday night.
Steven Jackson, who backed up prolific Oregon State tailback Ken Simonton last season, had 21 carries for 121 yards and two scores, while Dwight Wright ran for two more touchdowns.
The Colonels, clearly playing over their heads against the Beavers, scored on Pierre Wright's 51-yard fumble return and Adam Smith's 31-yard field goal.
The first time Anderson touched the ball he missed a throw far downfield to Jayson Boyd. But he nailed his next three passes, concluding with a 43-yard touchdown to James Newsom to put the Beavers up 7-0.
He bungled the Beavers' next series when his fumble was scooped up by Pierre Wright, who ran 51 yards for the score.
Anderson, a 19-year-old sophomore, was taking over the starting role from Jonathan Smith, the school's career passing leader who is now a graduate assistant.
Jackson, also a sophomore, ran 17 yards for a TD to make it 14-7 before the close of the first quarter.
After Smith's 31-yard field goal narrowed it for the Colonels, Jackson added a 1-yard scoring run.
Anderson hit Kenny Farley with an 80-yard touchdown pass, and Dwight Wright ran 16 yards for another score to put the Beavers up 35-10 at halftime.
After a quiet third quarter, Anderson threw a 41-yard scoring pass to Boyd early in the fourth before surrendering the ball to backup Adam Rothenfluh. Dwight Wright added a 26-yard scoring run.
The Colonels lost last season's opener to another Division I-A team, Central Michigan, but went on to finish 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference - second to conference champion Eastern Illinois.
Senior quarterback Travis Turner and sophomore tailback C.J. Hudson were no match for the Beavers' defense.
Turner, replaced briefly in the third quarter by Toki McCray, completed 10 of 21 passes for 95 yards. Hudson had 24 carries for 61 yards.
And Eastern Kentucky's defense, stung by a season-ending injury to free safety Yeremiah Bell this summer, couldn't stop the bigger and faster Beavers, who had 556 yards of total offense, compared to the Colonels' 193 yards.
Oregon State, which went a disappointing 5-6 last season, sold out Reser Stadium for the 10th straight game.
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
Team Stats
EKU 0, OSU 7
OSU - Newson, James 43 yd pass from Anderson, Derek (Yliniemi, Kirk kick) 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:57
EKU 7, OSU 7
EKU - WRIGHT,PIERRE 51 yd fumble recovery (SMITH,ADAM kick)
EKU 7, OSU 14
OSU - Jackson, Steven 17 yd run (Yliniemi, Kirk kick), 6 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:18
EKU 10, OSU 14
EKU - SMITH,ADAM 31 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 0:58
EKU 10, OSU 21
OSU - Jackson, Steven 1 yd run (Yliniemi, Kirk kick), 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:46
EKU 10, OSU 28
OSU - Farley, Kenny 80 yd pass from Anderson, Derek (Yliniemi, Kirk kick) 3 plays, 90 yards, TOP 1:07
EKU 10, OSU 35
OSU - Wright, Dwight 16 yd run (Yliniemi, Kirk kick), 1 plays, 16 yards, TOP 0:03
EKU 10, OSU 42
OSU - Boyd, Jayson 41 yd pass from Anderson, Derek (Yliniemi, Kirk kick) 9 plays, 87 yards, TOP 2:43
EKU 10, OSU 49
OSU - Wright, Dwight 26 yd run (Cesca, Ryan kick), 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:37
