A Nail‑Biter in Tucson
The Oregon State Beavers traveled to Tucson to meet the Arizona Wildcats in a clash that could decide a Rose Bowl berth, a prize that has eluded the program for decades.
From the opening drive the game swung like a pendulum, with each team answering the other's points. At halftime the scoreboard read 3‑3, a testament to the defensive intensity of both sides.
The third quarter saw the Beavers pull ahead 10‑3, only for Arizona to rally and knot the game at 10‑10. The Wildcats then surged to a 17‑10 lead in the fourth, but Oregon State answered with a timely touchdown pass from quarterback Sean Canfield to receiver Sammie Stroughter, pulling the visitors within one.
Kicker Justin Kahut’s extra point attempt missed, leaving the Beavers trailing by a single point. With the clock winding down, Canfield orchestrated a decisive drive, finding Stroughter on a key gain that set up Kahut’s 30‑yard field goal as the final seconds ticked away.
The kick split the uprights, delivering a 19‑17 victory and keeping Oregon State’s Rose Bowl hopes alive. The win underscores the team’s resilience after earlier scares against top‑ranked opponents, and it sets the stage for a potential postseason run.