One could understand why an Oregon fan would have to look more closely to the game program than usual in this version of the Civil War.
Nearly every notable player who participated in the last game has bolted out of Corvallis to look elsewhere to play. Even the kicker, Atticus Sappington, changed allegiances and is now an Oregon Duck.
What’s left, however, seems to be a pretty good offense that Oregon has to prepare for as they would every year when this game falls on the schedule.
There may be some new faces, but it’s the same old Oregon State offense that consists of a quarterback who doesn’t make many mistakes, a big offensive line, and some speedy skill players who are difficult to bring down once they have the ball.
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Quarterback Gevani McCoy, who beat out veteran Ben Gulbranson for the job, is brand new to campus after transferring in from Idaho. It seems as if that was a good decision as McCoy is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, 295 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The stats don’t light up the stat sheet, but making no mistakes is the key.
Left tackle Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-9 and 329 pounds. At right tackle is Grant Starck at 6-4 and 288 pounds. Center Van Wells is the “smallest” one of the bunch at 6-foot-2 and 318 pounds. The guards are Tyler Voltin who is 6-foot-4 and weighs 368 pounds and Joshua Gray at a mere 6-4 and 310 pounds.
That offensive line will do its best to open up some running holes for tailbacks Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson. Each is averaging over 100 yards a game and each has three touchdowns to their name.
Oregon State has the usual smallish, but really quick receivers that are tough to catch up and bring down with Taz Riddicks and Trent Walker, who leads the Beavers in receiving with 12 catches and 124 yards in the first two contests.
What is different this season is that the tight end position hasn’t have many touches yet. Bryce Caulfield has just one catch. Oregon State is without Jack Velling and his eight touchdowns from a year ago. He has moved on to Michigan State with coach Jonathan Smith and that absence has been sorely missed so far.
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