BFS Story Archive GAME 3 POSTGAME - NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES If it is possible to grow old in 15 minutes, I did it Saturday afternoon. I could feel what little brown hair I have left turning gray as every excruciating moment went by in that first 15 minutes on Saturday afternoon in the bright warm weather. First Derek Anderson DROPS back to pass and has the ball slip out of his hand as he goes to throw and New Mexico Defensive End Greg Scaffidi picked it up and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. On the Aggies next possession running back Eric Higgins literally popped out of a hole in the line and ran 47 yards for another New Mexico touchdown. It was like all the air had been suddenly sucked out the Reser stadium and I think my hair was falling out in clumps. All the people sitting around me just sat there with this stunned look on their faces and a collective sigh came over the crowd as if to say "Oh No, Now What?". But the Beavers quickly starting putting the crowd at ease with two 2nd quarter drives to take lead at half-time 14-13. The third quarter was all Oregon State as the defense stuffed every opportunity that New Mexico had by holding them scoreless in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The only other score by New Mexico came after Kenny Farley once again ran the wrong route and the ball sailed over his head to a waiting New Mexico player. After the scary start the Beavers and Derek Anderson showed that they still have some fight left in them after the disaster in Fresno. Two telling moments in the game came show that the Beavers are still in their fighting and plan not letting up. In the second quarter the Beavers could have gone down 20-7 to the Aggies when New Mexico intercepted an Anderson pass and returned it 44 yards to the OSU 14 yard line. But the Beaver defense stiffened by forcing two fumbles and an incomplete pass. Then New Mexico kicker Dario Aguiniga's 45 yard field goal attempt went wide left. The second telling moment I am not sure how many people saw. The Beavers were down on the 10 in route to a score in the third quarter. A Beaver player was down on the ground and a New Mexico player was on top of him holding him down and pushing him around. Now this was going on well away from the direction of the play. Derek Anderson saw what was happening and went over and grabbed the New Mexico player by the jersey, lifted him off the ground and pushed him out of the area with a threatening look as if to say, "Hey &#*!?!, you can't do that to my teammate". I think it shows that Derek is not giving up and is still in control of his team. The really scary moment of the game came in the fourth quarter when Steven Jackson limped off the field and a few moments later limped off to the locker room with ice taped to his knee. Concerned players and fans could only wait to find out what the nature of the injury was to our star player. Jackson had an MRI on Saturday and the result showed only a strain of the knee and no damage. Jackson was cleared to play next Sunday vs undefeated Boise State. At could have been a terrible end to what was a stellar day for Jackson. Jackson carried the ball 35 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 3 passes for 15 yards. All in all it was not a perfect day for the Beavers and they still have a lot of work to do. However, when a team goes on the road and suffers as disappointing a loss as the Beavers did in Fresno, they will either come out completely flat and lose the next game or really fired up and crush the next team. The Beavers came out a little flat early in the game but then the anger and determination of a winner set in and they did the job they had to do. WIN! They still have work to do and this weeks game only gets harder with a top quality team in Boise State coming to Corvallis. Boise State was 12-1 last year and defeated Iowa State in the Humanitarian Bowl. They return many of the key players from last year as well. I believe the Beavers are learning how to win under a new system and coaching staff. Change takes time and I believe they are heading in the right direction. The execution was better Saturday and the team played with more poise. Good Job Beavers!
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