Oregon State beats Pitt 3-0 at Sun Bowl

Written by Tim Korte    
Wednesday, 31 December 2008

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - In the lowest-scoring major bowl game in a half-century, No. 24 Oregon State shut down No. 18 Pittsburgh 3-0 in the Sun Bowl on Justin Kahut's 44-yard field goal late in the first half Wednesday.   The defensive struggle included 20 punts and nine sacks. Pitt kicker Connor Lee tried a 58-yard field goal in the closing minutes but the ball, helped by a steady wind, dropped just short of the crossbar.

Not since Air Force and TCU played to 0-0 standoff in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1959, had a bowl produced so few points.  The Beavers (9-4) improved to 5-0 in bowls since coach Mike Riley began his second stint as their coach in 2003. Pitt (9-4) managed just 178 total yards.

It was the lowest-scoring Sun Bowl since a scoreless tie in 1940 between Catholic and Arizona State.

Pitt, making its first bowl appearance since the 2004 season and the first under coach Dave Wanndstedt, led the Big East in scoring this season, averaging 29.3 points per game.  But there was no sign of offense this time, not with standout tailback LeSean McCoy held to 85 yards rushing. Quarterback Bill Stull was 7-for-24 for 52 yards with one interception.

The Beavers played without their spectacular brothers, tailback Jacquizz Rodgers and receiver James Rodgers, both out with shoulder injuries. Reserve tailback Jeremy Francis had 76 yards rushing and Lyle Moevao was 21-for-42 for 193 yards passing with two interceptions. The Beavers finished with 273 total yards and rebounded from 65-38 loss to rival Oregon that denied them a Rose Bowl berth.

The Panthers finally got a spark early in the fourth quarter when T.J. Porter returned a punt 36 yards to Oregon State's 42. But three plays later, the big return was wasted because Oregon State's Victor Butler, who had four sacks, stripped Stull and recovered the fumble.  Oregon State led 3-0 after Kahut connected on his field goal with 2:18 remaining before halftime. He later missed a 37-yard attempt midway through the third period.

The Beavers came up empty on the best touchdown opportunity by either team. Officials ruled tight end John Reese was out of bounds on an apparent 9-yard TD reception 10 seconds before the break.  The call was upheld after a replay review, and on the next play, Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop - the Big East defensive player of the year - intercepted Moevao's pass in the end zone.

coming soon!

Pitt Game Notes

Oregon State Team Notes

• Neither team scored in the first quarter. It marked just the third time the Beavers and their opponent have gone into the second quarter with no score. The first came in the season opener at Stanford and the second in the Beavers’ final road game at Arizona.
  
  
• The Beavers and Panthers combined for three first-half points, the least in a first half this season. Oregon State and UCLA went into halftime with a 3-3 tie on Nov. 8 and OSU and Arizona were tied at three as well. Both times Oregon State earned road victories.
  
  
• The last time Oregon State won a game by a score of 3-0 was in 1967 when they beat No. 1 USC in Corvallis.
  

Oregon State Individual Notes

• Keenan Lewis’ first quarter interception was his fourth of the season setting a career high ... his four interceptions also leads OSU in 2008.
  
  
• Sammie Stroughter entered the game ranked third in OSU history in receptions and receiving yards ... with 6 catches and 88 yards, Stroughter remains third on both lists with 164 receptions and 2,653 receiving yards ... Stroughter also passed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the season for the second time in his career joining Mike Hass (three times) and James Newson (twice) as the only receivers in OSU history with more than one 1,000-yard season.
  
  
• Victor Butler finished the game with 3.5 sacks giving him 11.5 for the season which ties for second on OSU’s all-time season list ... it also gives him 25.0 career sacks which ranks second in OSU history.
  
  
• Slade Norris finished the game with 1.5 sacks giving him 10.5 for the season which ranks sixth on OSU’s all-time season list ... it also gives him 19.5 career sacks which ties for third in OSU history.
  
  
• Jeremy Francis rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries to set career-highs for both.
  
  
• Chris Johnson made his second career start (in place of James Rodgers) and tallied 3 catches for 21 yards giving him 6 receptions and 60 yards for the season.
  
  
• Johnny Hekker was awarded the John Folmer Special Teams Player of the Game
  
  
• Victor Butler was chosen as the Jimmy Rogers Lineman of the Game