After the Oregon State Beavers wrapped up their season with a 34-18 defeat at No. 11 Boise State on Friday, Coach Trent Bray shared his insights on the team’s performance.
He addressed various topics, from the standout players to Boise State’s Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty, during his postgame press conference. Here’s a summary of his remarks, edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Coach, you seem a bit emotional after this game. What are your thoughts on the seniors who finished their time with the team?
Bray: Absolutely. These guys have contributed so much to our program, and they’ve faced a lot of challenges together. I truly appreciate everything they’ve done.
Q: Can you discuss why your team came up short in this game?
Bray: We had opportunities, especially in the fourth quarter. We had the ball a couple of times while down by nine, but we couldn’t capitalize when it mattered. Boise made plays in those critical moments, which is reflected in our respective standings.
Q: What’s your take on Ben Gulbranson’s performance, and how about Darrius Clemons, who had eight receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown?
Bray: Darrius had his best game yet. He made tough catches and broke tackles. That’s the kind of performance we’ve been looking for from him, and I hope it serves as a springboard into next season.
Q: How did some of the tough calls in the first half affect the overall game?
Bray: Those calls extended some drives, so they definitely had a big impact. We lost potential touchdown drives because of it. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens regularly in this league.
Q: Anthony Hankerson surpassed 1,000 yards this season. What stood out about his performance?
Bray: He’s a talented player and a hard worker. Despite being banged up with injuries, he kept fighting. He’s the kind of player you want on your team.
Q: Trent Walker also had an impressive season. What can you say about his contributions?
Bray: He’s a self-made player—started as a walk-on and earned a scholarship while becoming one of our top performers. I’m very proud of him.
Q: Regarding Ashton Jeanty, he had a good game but you managed to contain him fairly well. What’s your assessment?
Bray: Yes, we knew he’d get his yards because he’s an exceptional player. We did well in limiting explosive plays for the most part.
Q: However, their quarterback seemed to escape pressure a few too many times, correct?
Bray: Yes, definitely. That’s something we need to refine in our pass rush moving forward.
Q: How would you summarize Year One for you and the program? There were highs and lows.
Bray: It’s been a year of valuable lessons. We need to learn from the close games we played. As we grow, we’ll begin to see the results we desire.
Q: What’s next for you in the coming week?
Bray: We’ll hold exit meetings with all the players to evaluate their progress and discuss offseason goals. It’s important for them to understand their standing on the team and what they need to improve.
Q: Plus, there’s signing day coming up.
Bray: Yes, that’s right. Signing day and the opening of the transfer portal will bring a lot of activity in the next month.
Q: Not making it to a bowl game could be seen as a setback, but could it also be a blessing in disguise given the need for improvement?
Bray: I’m not sure. While making it to the postseason provides extra practice opportunities, I see merits in both sides of the argument.
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