CIVIL WAR: Fourth down conversions doom Beavs

OREGON STATE STOPPED Oregon on third down, they just couldn’t stop them on fourth down.

By the time it was 34-17, with 5:15 to go in third quarter, Oregon had converted four fourth downs in as many tries. The Ducks were two-for-nine on third down tries at that point. But the fourth down conversions were a killer.

It wasn’t close in the end with Oregon scoring 28 unanswered points in taking the Civil War 48-24. But OSU had their chances and early in the third quarter Oregon State had closed the gap to 20-17.

It was still anyone’s game at that point. But not for long.

Past became prologue, as a combination of missed tackles and lack of gap control allowed Oregon to rip off huge chunks of yardage throughout.

Meanwhile, three Oregon State turnovers proved deadly -- a Sean Mannion interception at the Oregon five-yard line, a fumbled kickoff return by Devon Kell and a muffed punt return by Markus Wheaton. All but the latter were turned into Oregon points.

A fourth turnover early in the fourth quarter, a pick by Mannion thrown into double coverage, snuffed out any hope the Beavs had when Oregon scored on a short field, making it 41-17 with 12:51 left in the game. Oregon State would finish with six turnovers and no takeaways.

The Beavs didn’t have to play a perfect game to win. They didn’t even need to be near-perfect. But they did need to play a methodical, sound fundamental football game. And they didn’t do that nearly enough.