EL PASO, Texas – Oregon State snapped a 10-game road losing streak with a 33-7 win over UTEP on Saturday at Sun Bowl Stadium.
The Beavers scored on their opening drive for the second straight week, going 75 yards in seven plays before AJ Newberry finished it with a 12-yard touchdown run. Newberry rushed for a career-high 111 yards on 11 carries, including a career-long 35-yard run, marking his first 100-yard rushing game.
“A great night here in El Paso, Texas, and the opportunity for our football team to go out and get a road win is something that is never gonna be lost on me. I don’t wanna take anything for granted, uh, but, uh, we had a chance to come out here and showcase what our football team is capable of, and it’s not just about what is probable, but what is possible,” Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard said.
Oregon State led 17-0 after the first quarter, their most points in an opening quarter since beating Hawai’i 45-27 on Sept. 11, 2021. UTEP managed just 6 total yards and zero first downs in the opening 15 minutes while the Beavers piled up 163 yards and 13 first downs.
Braden Atkinson threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns, completing 24 of 34 passes with one interception. He connected with Jesse Legree on touchdown passes of 14 and 19 yards in the first and third quarters, and found freshman Jameson Powell for an 18-yard score in the fourth.
Legree finished with 109 receiving yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game. Only Mike Hass has matched that streak in program history with five straight in 2005. Atkinson became the second Oregon State player to throw for 300-plus yards in four or more games, behind Sean Mannion’s seven-game streak in 2013.
Caleb Ojeda added field goals of 37 and 35 yards, the first multi-field goal game of his career and his first career field goal away from Reser Stadium. Oregon State’s defense recorded seven sacks, its most since a nine-sack effort against California in 2019, and forced two interceptions.
UTEP avoided the shutout with a nine-play, 75-yard drive in the third quarter, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from EJ Colson Jr. to Carver Cheeks. Oregon State had held the Miners scoreless through halftime, limiting them to 31 yards of total offense in the first two quarters.
TJ Crandall picked off Colson in the fourth quarter for his second career interception. Takari Hickle recorded a tackle for loss for the eighth consecutive game, and Gyriece Goodman logged his first career sack.
The Beavers have not allowed a sack in consecutive games for the first time since 2023. Through four games, Atkinson has passed for 1,423 yards and 11 touchdowns. Legree has 23 catches for 585 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
Oregon State opens Pac-12 play on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Colorado State with a 3 p.m. PT kickoff from Fort Collins.
Brett Taylor joined the KEZI 9 News team as a sports anchor and reporter in June of 2023. If you have a story idea, you can email Brett at btaylor@kezi.com.