CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State hosted a lighthearted spring game Saturday under new coach Gary Andersen that included field goals kicked by fans, a dance-off and the first look at freshman dual-threat quarterback Seth Collins.
Collins led the White team to what appeared to be a 38-7 victory over the Orange, although the scoreboard read 41-31 to reflect fan field goals.
Andersen was hired in December after just two seasons at Wisconsin. He replaced longtime coach Mike Riley, who unexpectedly left the Beavers to fill the opening at Nebraska.
Andersen liked what he saw on Saturday — and throughout spring practice.
“I’m very proud of the way they’ve worked, the way they’ve communicated, and the way they’ve competed,” he said. “So all of those things are positive.”
Andersen is tasked with rebuilding the Beavers, who finished last season 5-7 and out of the postseason picture. The team also lost prolific quarterback Sean Mannion, who set the all-time Pac-12 record for career passing yards with 13,600 and a school record for touchdown passes with 83.
Collins got the start for the White after grabbing a lot of the buzz in spring practice. He threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while also gaining 74 on the ground.
Collins, who is from El Cajon, California, committed in January after switching from San Jose State and enrolled in school early. As a senior at Granite Hills High School, he passed for 1,013 yards and 12 touchdowns while running for 988 yards and 17 scores.
His moves in the spring game included a flip and a hurdle.
“I was cringing, like, ‘C’mon Seth,’ ” joked senior running back Storm Woods.
Andersen says he’s not ready to name Collins the frontrunner for the job, despite the strong spring.
“There’s so much that goes into it, I don’t think 15 days can tell the tale,” he said.
Junior Chris Brown’s 3-yard run put the White in front, but on the next play from scrimmage the Orange scored on Xavier Hawkins 70-yard run to make it 7-7.
Receiver Victor Bolden grabbed a screen pass from Collins and ran 70 yards for another score, before Brown barreled in from 7-yards out to make it 21-7 for the White.
Richard Mullaney’s 20-yard touchdown reception from Collins extended the lead. Shane Wallen added a 3-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
At one point, Andersen helped fire the T-shirt gun into the crowd, which was announced at 12,316. Players also danced on the field during one of the breaks.
Andersen was 19-7 in his two seasons as Wisconsin’s coach. He came to the Badgers from Utah State, where he spent four seasons.
Riley was credited with turning around an Oregon State team that had 26 straight losing seasons when he became head coach in 1997. He left for the San Diego Chargers in 1999, and Dennis Erickson coached the Beavers for four seasons before Riley returned in 2003.
Riley took the Beavers to eight bowl appearances, compiling a 6-2 record.
