It is showtime throughout the Oregon State soccer program.
By three sport the Beavers have became one of the fruitful offenses within the nation, particularly within the passing sport. Sophomore quarterback Braden Atkinson is close to the highest of the nation in passing yards, and freshman receiver Jesse Legree leads the nation in receiving yards as OSU picked up its first win of the season (1-2 general) in opposition to Montana.
Commercial
For brand new head coach JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State’s Sept. 19 victory over Montana was his first time underneath the lights in Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
He wished to placed on a present.
“I sat with our band director and talked about how we have been going to construction the band once we got here out,” Shephard stated. “I talked to our of us about when the lights have been going to go off, once they have been going to come back again on … placing the orange ribbon round, the hearth, the movies of the dad and mom … highlights of our gamers.”
“I’ve tried to place our mark on each element surrounding this whole soccer crew,” Shephard stated.
Commercial
With an 8 p.m. kickoff in all-black uniforms underneath the lights of Reser Stadium, Shephard and Oregon State’s consideration to element paid off in a number of methods.
An orange glow created a rim across the area as fireworks took off for the sky within the Pac-12 After Darkish-esque contest and Beavers followers watching in individual, on tv or simply scrolling social media may sense the showmanship Oregon State soccer has begun to current.
Oregon State gamers run onto the sector throughout an NCAA soccer sport at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Corvallis, Oregon
However the true showmanship takes place on the sector.
By three video games, the Beavers have a pair of losses to ranked opponents Houston and Texas Tech. Oregon State’s offense, although, is pacing the Pac-12 and the nation, statistically.
Commercial
Oregon State leads the NCAA in passing yards per sport with 385.7 yards — almost 20 extra yards than second-best SMU.
Atkinson has the second-most passing yards within the nation (1,120) and is second solely to USC’s Jayde Maiava, who’s performed 4 video games. Atkinson’s eight passing touchdowns are among the many 15 finest tallies to date, too, for this week’s Pac-12 offensive participant of the week.
Legree, now a three-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, leads the nation with 476 receiving yards and has caught 4 touchdowns, a top-15 mark nationally. His 28 yards per catch are the second most amongst all receivers with 10 or extra catches.
Atkinson’s six-touchdown efficiency in opposition to Montana tied a single-game OSU report and his 1,000-plus passing yards by three video games are Oregon State’s most since Sean Mannion in 2013.
Commercial
Legree’s three consecutive 100-plus yard receiving video games are Oregon State’s first of its sort since Brandin Cooks recorded the feat, additionally in 2013.
A part of the rationale that is attainable is due to Shephard’s consideration to element — that very same consideration to element that overvalued Reser Stadium throughout an evening sport blowout — that has established him as one of many high pass-game coaches round.
Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard reacts to a play throughout an NCAA soccer sport at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Corvallis, Oregon
‘It is a philosophy of our soccer crew’
Fourteen completely different receivers have caught a cross in Oregon State’s first three video games.
The routes are inventive, the blocking is efficient and Atkinson is hitting his marks. Legree leads the crew in yards by fairly a margin, however a number of different receivers have carved out impactful roles within the offense.
Commercial
Sophomore receiver Aeryn Hampton boasts 12.3 yards per catch and 172 receiving yards whole, and working again AJ Newberry has 11 catches and 127 receiving yards by three video games. Tight finish Eric Olsen is the Beavers- different pass-catcher with no less than 10 catches this season, gaining 92 yards and a landing.
“Our perception is getting everyone to the touch the ball. You have seen it, hopefully you consider it now. It is not only a technique, it is a philosophy of our soccer crew,” Shephard stated.
Oregon State’s Aeryn Hampton, left, runs after the catch throughout an NCAA soccer sport at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Corvallis, Oregon
A lot of the identical spread-the-ball offense might be anticipated Sept. 26 in El Paso, Texas, in opposition to UTEP. Shephard praised a number of aspects of UTEP’s sport, together with a stable protection.
Commercial
“They’re protection is tremendous athletic within the nook place, two actually good corners,” Shephard stated. “Their safeties, they’ve a three-man rotation again there … all three of these guys can actually play all three spots.”
UTEP has physicality up entrance, together with a participant on the sting who may, “take over the sport,” if given the chance in linebacker Jayden Wilson.
“They’re protection is extraordinarily athletic. Possibly one of the athletic ones that we have gone in opposition to this 12 months thus far,” Shephard stated. “It may be a problem, can our broad receivers get open in opposition to their secondary.”
UTEP is but to play in a sport that did not see 50 factors placed on the scoreboard. Within the opener, the Miners have been shut out in a 51-0 loss to Oklahoma. A 51-10 win over Texas Southern got here the next week, earlier than a 52-17 loss to Michigan hit in Week 3.
Commercial
Offensively, the Miners pound the dust with consistency and take photographs downfield within the cross. Beginning quarterback EJ Colson Jr. has accomplished 27 of 42 passes this season for 377 yards, coinciding with 40 rush makes an attempt and 54 yards. One other Miners’ quarterback, Raymond Moore III, has 160 speeding yards on 18 carries.
Operating again Tavorus Jones has 162 speeding yards and a landing on 30 carries.
Two UTEP receivers have two touchdowns and 5 have over 40 receiving yards to this point, regardless of not a single receiver having greater than six catches.
“Their offense is one the place they generate some actually explosive performs,” Shephard stated. “Lots of explosive performs generated by the passing sport with photographs … however then additionally some large runs. They actually run the ball effectively.”
Commercial
The right way to watch Oregon State vs. UTEP
Oregon State vs. UTEP will air on MW+ from Solar Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas at 6 p.m. PT.
The sport might be heard on the radio from Beaver Sports activities Community.
This text initially appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon State offense pacing the nation after Beavers’ first win
