SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 21, 2013
Oregon State 34, San Diego State 30: Steven Nelsonกฏs 16-yard interception return with 2:31 remaining capped a 20-point, fourth-quarter splurge as the Beavers rallied from 13 down to beat the host Aztecs.
Oregon State (3-1) trailed 27-14 entering the final stanza and still faced a nine-point deficit before Sean Mannion threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Terron Ward with 2:40 left. On San Diego Stateกฏs second offensive play after the score, Nelson intercepted Quinn Kaehlerกฏs overthrown pass and returned it for the decisive points.
Mannion passed for 367 yards and three touchdowns while receiver Brandin Cooks accumulated 141 receiving yards on a career-best 14 receptions. Kaehler passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns in his first major-college start, but threw two fourth-quarter interceptions as the Aztecs dropped to 0-3.
San Diego State had a 24-14 halftime lead and increased the lead to 13 on Wes Feerกฏs 40-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Mannionกฏs 2-yard scoring pass to Kevin Cummings pulled Oregon State within six before Feer booted a 30-yard field goal to give the Aztecs a nine-point lead with 5:18 to play.
Kaehler, a junior-college transfer, threw touchdown passes of 23 yards to Donnel Pumphrey and 80 yards to Colin Lockett in the first quarter for the Aztecs, while Ward scored on a 1-yard run and Mannion tossed a 2-yard pass to Kellen Clute. In the second quarter, Feer kicked a 45-yard field goal and Adam Muema tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run for San Diego Stateกฏs 10-point lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Oregon State RB Storm Woods missed the game with a concussion and the Beavers had just 10 yards on the ground in his absence. กญ Muema had just 22 total rushing yards in San Diego Stateกฏs first two games while dealing with an ankle injury, but carried the ball 28 times for 71 yards against the Beavers. กญ Cooks has 43 receptions and 639 receiving yards through four games.