BEAVS COME UP CLUTCH IN NAILBITING WIN

SO MUCH GOOD work done in the first half. So much of it all but undone in the second half. But when it mattered most, the Beavers answered, punching it into the end zone and turning back Arizona on a big-time goal line stand in claiming a much-needed 37-27 win.

The defense was the star of the show in the first half. But the list of Beaver key performers included many more, running back Jovan Stevenson chief among them.

OSU held Arizona to 141 total yards and six points over the first thirty minutes. Stevenson picked and ran his way for 99 yards before being injured late in the game with a reported possible concussion.

Sean Mannion put up some impressive numbers -- 32-41 for 267 yards with 2 TDs, though he also had 2 picks. On balance, however, Mannion had a very solid game and made big plays when the Beavs needed them most.

The much maligned OSU o-line came up big, opening up running lanes and providing solid protection for Mannion throughout. So too were the OSU special teams, with a fake punt and a ball hawking style that looked to run Arizona out of the stadium in the first half.

DE Scott Crichton again came up huge, with the Pac-12's leader in tackles for loss adding more of the same to his stats.

OSU held a 30-6 lead at the half but Arizona scored twice in rapid succession, the second coming on a tipped Mannion pass and return for score.

After an Arizona score trimmed the Beavs' lead to 30-27, Oregon State drove to the Arizona 2-yard line and faced with a fourth down, Mike Riley made the call to go for it. It seemed the right call -- a field goal would have only put the lead at six and Arizona was on a scoring roll. Joe Halahuni gathered in the pass in the end zone and Reser erupted.

Arizona came back quickly, with first and goal and still plenty of time left on the clock. But OSU's defense had one last stand, with Jordan Poyer bothering the Arizona wideout just enough to force an incompletion. When it was over, an exhausted Lance Mitchell, who had an outstanding game, dropped to the turf, exhausted. And a winner.

BF.C will have more coverage a little later on...