The last time Eastern Washington played at Oregon State, the Beavers’ 21-19 victory over the visitors from the Big Sky Conference wasn’t secure until the final play.

There was no such suspense on Thursday, however, in the Eagles’ encore Reser Stadium appearance. OSU parlayed two early turnovers and a 32-yard Sammie Stroughter punt return into 21 points in the first 9:09, and the Beavers cruised from there to a 56-17 victory in their season opener.

It was OSU’s highest-scoring game since the 55-14 rout of New Mexico in the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl. Six different Beavers scored TDs and quarterbacks Matt Moore and Sean Canfield each passed for two touchdowns.

Many in the announced crowd of 38,071 on a breezy, balmy evening had scarcely settled into their seats when EWU’s misfortune began. Quarterback Matt Peerboom fumbled on the second play and OSU linebacker Derrick Doggett recovered at the EWU 12.

OSU junior tailback Yvenson Bernard scored three plays later on a 3-yard plunge with 13:08 remaining in the first quarter, and the mismatch was on. EWU went 3-and-out on its next possession and Stroughter’s punt return to the EWU 23 led to Matt Moore’s 21-yard TD pass to tight end Joe Newton two plays later for a 14-0 lead at 9:54.

Another EWU fumble at its 29 on the subsequent series resulted in Bernard’s 16-yard TD dash at 6:51 for a 21-0 advantage.

The Beavers could name the final score from there. With the outcome no longer in doubt coach Mike Riley substituted freely, keeping every starter healthy for next Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. game at Boise State (ESPN).

Bernard rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries, 107 in the first half; it was the seventh 100-yard game in his last nine starts. Moore, who did not play in the second half, completed 7 of 14 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns to tight end Joe Newton, without an interception.

A defense with six new starters from the 2005 Civil War recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass, had five sacks and limited historically-potent EWU to 126 total yards.

Senior tailback Ryan Cole scored the Eagles’ lone touchdown from scrimmage on a 9-yard run in the second quarter and gained 29 yards in 13 carries.

He played at OSU from 2002-04 before transferring to EWU for his final two seasons.

It was OSU’s 21st consecutive home non-conference victory, a streak that started with a 67-28 victory overall, and over Northern Illinois on Nov. 16, 1996. OSU coach Mike Riley is 12-0 in home nonconference games in his two stints here.

The crowd was the smallest since Reser Stadium was expanded before the 2005 season. Last year’s low was 40,759 for the Arizona game.