CORVALLIS, Ore. — True freshman Seth Collins threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 44-yard fourth-quarter strike to Jordan Villamin, and Oregon State defeated Weber State 26-7 on Friday night in Gary Andersen’s debut as the Beavers’ head coach.
Collins, who started both halves, is sharing quarterback duties with redshirt freshman Marcus McMaryion as the Beavers adjust to a new spread offense under Andersen, who came to Corvallis after two years in Wisconsin.
In addition to two TD passes, Collins also led the Beavers with 152 yards rushing. Garrett Owens added four field goals.
Josh Burton intercepted McMaryion for an 8-yard touchdown return late in the third quarter for Weber State’s lone score.
Andersen is embarking on his first season with the Beavers after the departure of longtime coach Mike Riley, who went to Nebraska. Oregon State is transitioning from Riley’s pro-style offense to a run-first spread while trying to give both Collins and McMaryion live-game experience.
McMaryion served on the scout team last year and said he learned a lot from former Beavers quarterback Sean Mannion, who graduated after a record-setting senior season and went to the St. Louis Rams. Collins arrived at Oregon State early and impressed coaches in the annual spring game, throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 74 yards.
Andersen says there’s no real timetable to naming a starter, although Collins’ performance in the opener seemed to seal the competition.
Oregon State went 5-7 — out of the bowl picture — last season under Riley.
Weber State, which plays in the Big Sky Conference, went 2-10 last season in Jay Hill’s first year as head coach. Andersen recruited Hill to Utah when Hill was a promising young cornerback nearly two decades ago, and the two later worked on the Utes’ staff together under coach Kyle Whittingham.
Weber State junior quarterback Jadrian Clark, who started the final five games last season and threw for 902 yards and seven touchdowns, completed 19 of 35 passes for 120 yards and an interception against Oregon State.
The Beavers went up 6-0 in the first half on a pair of field goals — from 30 and 40 yards out — from Owens as both teams struggled to sustain drives.
Collins started the second half and capped his first drive with a 4-yard scoring pass to Victor Bolden, Oregon State’s top returning receiver.
On Weber State’s ensuing drive, Josh Kealamakia’s 45-yard field goal attempt fell short, but Burton’s interception return for a touchdown pulled the Wildcats within 13-7.
Owens added a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter before Collins’ long scoring pass to Villamin. Owens’ 45-yarder provided the final margin.
Collins’ rushing yards were the most for an Oregon State quarterback since Tim Alexander ran for 205 against Northern Illinois in 1996.
Oregon State wore black and white uniform combination for the first time since the team’s re-branding in 2013: Black jerseys, white pants and white helmets. The helmet will feature a red, white and blue Beavers logo in tribute the U.S. Armed Forces.
