When Oregon State offensive lineman Blake Brandel returned to his family home in Milwaukie following last year's Civil War, his mother greeted him and the conversation soon shifted to the game.
The Beavers lost their eighth in a row to Oregon, falling 52-42 after a frantic second half rally. But the conversation focused less on the defeat and more on the performance of OSU running back Ryan Nall.
Those who watched the game marveled at the redshirt freshman's combination of size and speed. Yet it was no shock to Brandel, who attended Southeast Portland's Central Catholic High School with Nall.