Oregon State can’t stop Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. as Beavers lose 24-21: Game at a glance
Penix #Penix
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and kicker Peyton Henry rallied the Huskies past No. 23 Oregon State Beavers for a 24-21 victory Friday night at Husky Stadium in Seattle.
Penix led the Huskies down the field for their game-winning drive and then Henry kicked a 22-yard field goal with eight seconds to go to lift Washington (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) to its third win in a row.
Oregon State (6-3, 3-3) never trailed until the closing seconds, holding leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14 before the Huskies answered back each time. The Beavers, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped, haven’t won at Washington since 2008.
Deshaun Fenwick ran for two touchdowns for Oregon State and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold scored on a pick-six of Penix late in the first half. Damien Martinez surpassed 100 yards rushing for the third game in a row.
Penix, the national leader in passing yardage, led the Huskies on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter as they closed the game by scoring 10 consecutive points. Penix finished 30 of 52 for 298 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wayne Taulapapa ran for two touchdowns for Washington, which converted 11 of 18 third downs.
Oregon State largely leaned on its running game. Martinez ran 19 times for 107 yards, and Ben Gulbranson finished 12 of 19 passing for 87 yards.
The Huskies held the Beavers to 100 total yards in the second half.
Oregon State led 14-7 at halftime following a first half in which the Beavers could have had more, then received a surprise score late in the half.
The Beavers opened the game with a punishing 75-yard scoring drive. Martinez did most of the damage on the drive with four carries for 39 yards. Fenwick finished, bulling into the end zone from 3 yards out to stake the Beavers to a 7-0 lead.
Oregon State had golden chances to add to the lead. Twice the Beavers drove inside the 20, but came away scoreless both times after failing on a fourth-and-short play.
Washington eventually answered, scoring at the end of an 86-yard drive where the Huskies hit big passes three times on third or fourth and long. Taulapapa scored on a 2-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:23 left in the half.
OSU’s defense responded inside the final two minutes, when Mascarenas-Arnold intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
Washington pulled even at 14-14 nine minutes into the third quarter when Penix and Jack Westover connected on a 24-yard touchdown pass play.
The Beavers offense, stymied for nearly two quarters, came to life with the help of a fortunate call. On third and 10 at the UW 42, Gulbranson was sacked, but the Beavers kept the ball as Jeremiah Martin was flagged for a 15-yard facemask penalty.
Oregon State pounced, as Fenwick, shifting into a wildcat quarterback position, took a direct snap and ran 19 yards for a touchdown. The Beavers carried a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Washington responded with its next drive, as the Huskies easily covered 66 yards to even the score at 21-21. Taulapapa scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run with 11:36 left in the game.
There was about a 25-minute delay with 11 minutes remaining because of a stadium lighting issue.
Briefly: Martinez made his first career start. … Kicker Everett Hayes returned to action after missing three consecutive games with a groin injury. … Mascarenas-Arnold’s pick-six was Oregon State’s second in as many games. Alex Austin returned an interception for a touchdown two weeks ago against Colorado. The last time OSU had pick-sixes in consecutive games was 2013 vs. Utah and San Diego State.
— Nick Daschel reported from Seattle
ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
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