The Oregon State Beavers entered Saturday's game against the UCLA Bruins with one goal on their minds: get a win. The team almost managed to do just that, rallying from an 18-point deficit and pulling within a few plays of a comeback victory before ultimately falling 27-19.
The Beavers scored the game's first points on a 25-yard field goal by kicker Trevor Romaine in the first quarter, but then went on to watch the Bruins pile on three straight touchdowns to take a commanding 21-3 lead. Oregon State scored in the closing seconds of the second half on an 85-yard punt return by Jordan Poyer to draw within 21-10 at halftime.
That play provided the Beavers with some much-needed momentum. The team marched down the field during the first drive of the second half and knocked in another field goal, this time from 30 yards out by Romaine. Quarterback Sean Mannion, who struggled in the second quarter with an interception and a fumble, redeemed himself with a 45-yard touchdown strike to Jordan Bishop on the very last play of the third quarter.
The Bruins fought back with a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Barr in the fourth quarter, and that turned out to make all the difference in the end. Oregon State drove down the field with 6:15 left in the game but failed to convert on a 4th-and-8 at the UCLA 22-yard line to keep the drive alive. The Bruins took over with 2:12 to go and ran out the clock for their 27-19 victory.
Mannion ended the game with 287 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 24-of-40 passing. Jordan Stevenson led the running backs with 47 yards on the ground on seven carries while Markus Wheaton led all Beaver receivers with 83 yards on seven receptions.
Oregon State is now 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in Pac-12 play. The Beavers face Arizona State on the road next week.