CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State outscored the Sun Devils, 21-3, in the second second half and handed the No. 7 Arizona State University football team its second loss of the season, 35-27, Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.
The Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) had their seven-game road unbeaten streak snapped after the Oregon State (5-5, 2-5 Pac-12) held them to just 110 total yards of offense in the second half.
Jaelen Strong had nine receptions for 103 yards in the contest while Taylor Kelly finished 22-of-44 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
OSU was led by Terron Ward (19 rushes, 148 yards, 1 TD) and Storm Woods (11 rushes, 125 yards, 1 TD), who became the first duo to rush for over 100 yards each since USC’s Tre Madden and Justin Davis last season.
Beaver quarterback Sean Mannion was 19-of-33 for 251 yard with two touchdowns and an interception, tossing the game winner to Jordan Villiman early in the fourth quarter
After ASU took a 24-14 halftime lead, Oregon State drew within three with 3:19 left in the third quarter as Mannion found Victor Bolden on a 20-yard strike to make it 24-21.
After a Zane Gonzalez 29-yard field goal early in the fourth, the Beavers struck the dagger as Mannion found Villiman in stride for a 66-yard bomb and a 28-27 advantage with 10:55 left in the game.
Villiman finished the game with four catches for 127 yards and the touchdown.
OSU would extend its lead to eight points after Taylor Kelly threw an interception returned for a 35-yard touchdown by Michael Doctor with 1:38 left in regulation to seal the deal.
Marcus Hardison finished the game with two sacks and three total tackles for loss forced to lead the Sun Devil defense, but it wasn’t enough as the Beavers gashed ASU for 498 total yards of offense to just 367 by the Sun Devils.
The Beavers drew first blood on their second possession of the game as Storm Woods broke through the line of scrimmage and saw nothing but clean air as he marched 78 yards down the field for a touchdown with 11:17 to go in the first quarter.
It was the longest scoring play for the Beavers all season and the longest scoring rush given up by the ASU defense since Melvin Gordon’s 80-yard dash against Wisconsin last season.
A Damarious Randall interception – his second in as many games – would lead to a Zane Gonzalez field goal two possession later for the Sun Devils as they cut OSU’s lead to 7-3.
But the Beavers answered convincingly, as Terron Ward ripped off a career-long rush of his own on a 66-yard scamper on the following drive to put Oregon State up 14-3 with 5:09 remaining in the first.
Needing an answer, the Sun Devil offense delivered with a 10-play, 73-yard drive in 3:56 that was capped by the 11th career receiving touchdown by running back D.J. Foster to bring ASU back within four.
After a couple stands by the ASU defense, the Sun Devils took their first lead of the game on a 43-yard Kody Kohl touchdown reception with 9:40 left in the half to go ahead 17-14.
The Devils didn’t take their foot off the pedal there and a Marcus Hardison sack and fumble forced on the ensuing OSU drive led to a 36-yard scoop and score by Antonio Longino with 7:04 left in the second quarter and ASU’s fourth defensive touchdown of the season and a 24-14 lead that ASU would take to the halftime break.
It was ASU first road loss since falling to Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas, last season – ending the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
ASU returns home for Senior Day and the game of the season at Sun Devil Stadium next week against Washington State at 11 a.m. MT/1 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Networks.