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LAS VEGAS – It’s still hot at this late stage of the day. Your skin feels the sting without shade. At the same time you can see the rain falling out of the clouds and evaporating before hitting the ground.

Here are some final thoughts about the game with some photos of Sam Boyd Stadium.

Winning tonight’s nonconference against UNLV would make the early portion of the season for the Oregon State football team.

Much has been made of the nearly nonconference road game problem of the Beavers. If they win this game they will have conquered the demon.

Typically, the Beavers lose to big-name programs. UNLV is not one of them, so a loss will feel worse here than at Penn State. But a road win is a road win.

“We are not going to take solace from a loss,” coach Mike Riley said. “We are playing a good football team on the rise. We are playing against good athletes and we are playing on the road in an unusual environment for us. I think there are a lot things there that are factors. They are good things to overcome.”

But will the Beavers be happy with a badly played win? Or you can term it as a scrappy win.

“It’s never perfect,” Riley said. “We’ll would be excited about the win. We can make great strides with a win. It would say a lot about this team right now.”

The Beavers want to play well all the time, win or lose. Their philosophy is play well, and everything else takes care of itself.

“We were pretty efficient last week, so If we can keep up that level of efficiency and keep that going week-to-week, that would be good for us,” QB Sean Canfield said.

“It’s a challenge because we are playing more younger players than we ever have,” Riley said.

That in a nutshell is the drama OSU must face tonight. A young team with potential is teetering on the verge of long-term success or a major setback.

Please feel free to comment on the blog throughout and after the game. I have to get my print stuff done before I get to the blog due to the lateness of this game.

I’ll have the UNLV postgame blog up in the early morning hours. Make sure to check back Sunday before church.

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In game updates – First quarter

  • The Beavers missed a first-quarter scoring opportunity when PK Justin Kahut bounced a 47-yard field goal attempt off the left upright. It was set up by an OSU interception by S Lance Mitchell.
  • The defense is playing well. Players are being substituted freely to keep them rested in the heat (96-degree game time). The offense need to move the ball better. QB Sean Canfield took a ferocious hit, but bounced back up.

Second quarter

  • The Beavers stopped a long UNLV drive when Mitchell dislodged the ball in midair collision after a reception at their 12-yard line. Keaton Kristick recovered it and returned it to the 30.
  • Beavers scored with 1:04 left in the first half on a 1-yard TD pass from Canfield to TE Brady Camp. Canfield stood in the pocket and took another hard hit. The ball floated up there and Camp was so wide open he could have called for a fair catch. Kahut missed the extra point wide left.

Third quarter
The Beavers started fast out of halftime. They scored a on a 2-yard touchdown by RB Jacquizz Rodgers to cap off a 60-yard drive. He set up the score with a 45-yard run on the first play.

UNLV responded with a long kickoff return and a 19-yard TD from Omar Clayton to Rodelin Anthony.

Beavers come back with a 75-yard drive. Canfield hit James Rodgers with a 4-yard TD pass.

Fourth quarter
UNLV made interesting with a TD with 10:53 left to make the scored 20-14. Got to make deadline, I’ll be back later.

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