ASU hadn’t allowed any points in the fourth quarter in 2010.
Oregon State hadn’t scored any points in the fourth quarter in 2010.
In just 24 seconds Saturday, both of those streaks were snapped.
On the Beavers’ first play of the fourth quarter, OSU junior running back Jacquizz Rodgers broke a 74-yard touchdown run to put his team up 11, a lead the Beavers (2-2, 1-0 Pac-10) wouldn’t surrender en route to a 31-28 victory.
“Well, there was a guy coming from the right side of the field,” Rodgers said. “So I hesitated on the run so [OSU sophomore wide receiver] Markus Wheaton could pick up the block to secure the touchdown.”
The Sun Devils (2-3, 0-2 Pac-10) scored a late touchdown to cut the lead to three, but redshirt junior quarterback Steven Threet’s third interception of the day with 17 seconds left sealed ASU’s fate.
OSU senior cornerback James Dockery pulled down two of the three picks.
“James is an absolute football junkie, a gym-rat, whatever you want to call it,” OSU coach Mike Riley said. “It’s almost unmatched.
He brings it all day. He’s made himself into the player he is, and he’s a tremendous competitor. He does not like to lose, so he battles like crazy and he has made two plays to end games, and that’s an awesome stat.”
The Beavers sacked Threet six times after entering the game with just two in their first three games.
“We went out there with the mind set of ‘we need to get to this guy,’” OSU senior linebacker Keith Pankey said. “Our defensive line played their hearts out today. We got pressure on the quarterback; we hit him even when he threw the ball, and when you keep doing those body punches they add up. It rattles you and it gets you wary of the defense.”
OSU trailed by seven midway through the first quarter but a 24-7 run gave the Beavers a 10-point lead at halftime.
Two field goals from ASU senior kick Thomas Weber cut the Beaver lead to four before Rodgers’ backbreaking touchdown run.
“We talked about it last night: we’re going to play 60 minutes, don’t look up and play like crazy,” Riley said. “We had a whole bunch of guys contribute, which I’m really proud of. These guys know that in the blink of an eye they [can] go in the game and they have to be prepared.”
OSU sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz threw for a career-high 260 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-29 passing.
“We’re just getting more comfortable,” Katz said. “I think the receivers are seeing the open lanes and the line’s giving me time to throw the ball. We’ve corrected a lot of things since the [Texas Christian] game. I think we’re just scratching the surface.”
OSU didn’t fumble or throw an interception for the fourth consecutive game and are the only FBS team without a turnover this season.
Last season after defeating ASU in Tempe, the Beavers went on to win five of their next six conference games.
“The win just makes everyone feel happy, especially with the atmosphere around here,” Rodgers said. “Players and coaches, you feel better at practice too. We need to build from this, work, and fix the things that we need to work on for next week’s game.”
Reach the reporter at tyler.emerick@asu.edu
