Oregon State backup QB scores on his first D-1 play to win Civil War against Oregon in the upset at the 127th meeting of Beaver State rivals, the winner came down to one play from a quarterback that had literally never made a play before.
In a wild finish in Corvallis, the Oregon State Beavers knocked off the Oregon Ducks 41-38 to win the Platypus Trophy for the first time since 2016.
With the Beavers trailing 38-34 and on the verge of scoring on 3rd and goal from the one-yard line, starting quarterback Tristan Gebbia was injured trying to punch the ball in, coming up about six inches short. It meant 4th and about six inches for OSU, but Gebbia was carried off the field clearly in pain.
So what happens now, and what play do you call?? Backup quarterback Chance Nolan enters the game, and scores on this quarterback sneak to give his team the lead on his very first Division I FBS college football play. Against their biggest rival. With the Pac-12’s hopes of the College Football Playoff on the line.
Nolan was 9-2 last season as a Juco at Saddleback College, and was ranked as the #1 dual threat QB by Rivals amongst the JC class. I’ll vouch for one end of the dual threat, as clearly he can run it, for the half foot he needed.
A few turnovers and telegraphed passes by Tyler Shough were, in retrospect, turning points in the Duck loss but on the bright side it looks as if Oregon’s kicking game has cleared up a bit.
Next up for the Oregon Ducks is another road game against a Cal team that has yet to see the “W” column. Fridays slate earlier, Stanford got by Cal 24-23. Game time for the December 5th Saturday game against Cal is to be determined. I’ll venture to guess ESPN won’t be picking it up.
