If another step toward the Rose Bowl is taken this weekend, the Oregon State football team must go through one of its toughest opponents in recent years. California comes to town to face the No. 23-ranked Beavers at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in Reser Stadium. That’s a problem since the visiting team in this series has won the last five games dating back to the 24-13 OSU win in 2002 at home. And when the Bears (6-3,
4-2) have come to Corvallis the last two times, they’ve mauled the Beavers (6-3, 5-1). The scores were 41-13 in 2006 and 47-7 in 2004. “I wish this game is in Berkeley,” coach Mike Riley said as a joke. “But just like all the other stuff, all those kind of things, they are just part of history. It’s the same old thing about who plays the best on Saturday. These are two new teams.” Various reasons attributed to those lopsided losses, and OSU’s upsets in the Bay Area. It was mostly because the Bears were just better when in Corvallis and the Beavers were hitting their late-season stride when on the road.
This year the Beavers are slightly favored and on a roll, having won the last four games and six of the last seven. Cal is coming off a loss at Southern California. Its normally potent offense sputtered, so there’s an urgency to get back on track. “Now it’s a three-game season,” defensive end Victor Butler said. “We are going to prepare for them as hard as we can one-game-at-a-time. We’ll execute, and take it from there.”
Both teams are bowl eligible and are looking to improve their position. The Beavers can go to the Rose Bowl if they win the final three games, while the Bears are in the hunt for the Sun Bowl or Holiday Bowl.
For all the ramifications, this is the big game in the Pac-10 this weekend. “We’re excited we are bowl eligible, but we have to take a deep breath and get after Cal,” offensive guard Adam Speer said. “I think the sky is the limit. It just matters how hard we work this week.” The Bears are similar to the Beavers in how they match up with personnel, and how they’ve performed. They even have rotating quarterbacks, but at a faster spin. Riley will choose his quarterback between starter Lyle Moevao and backup Sean Canfield, depending on how Moevao’s sore throwing shoulder feels later in the week and how much practice he receives. “I don’t know how difficult that makes it for them,” Riley said of Cal’s preparation for the Beavers. “There won’t be a big difference in what we do between our two quarterbacks. But I’m sure they would be interested in knowing who we’ll be playing.” Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley have had success running Cal’s offense. Kevin Riley has been slowed by a concussion, but he played last week in the second half.
He nearly led the Bears to a victory over the Beavers last year in his first career start. “It’s similar to us in what they do,” Mike Riley said of Cal’s quarterback situation. “But when you talk bout about a scrambler or a drop-back passer, it can be difficult to adjust to. When you are talking about two similar guys (like in both cases), it doesn’t matter.” The Beavers aren’t worried just about a quarterback. The Bears have a standout running back in Jahvid Best. He is second in the Pac-10 in all-purpose yards at 157.6 a game, and third in rushing yards at 95.8 a game. The Beavers counter with a defense that has allowed only one touchdown in the last two games. Cal’s defensive numbers put it in the middle of the conference, but is tied for third in the nation in interceptions with 17. OSU has thrown 10. “It’s just a matter on the focus on being on Cal,” Riley said. “This is a good football team with a lot of ability. We don’t have a problem with this, but the goal is to play for the next game. It’s important to maintain that as we go into it.”
California scouting report
RECORDS: California 6-3, 4-2 Pacific-10 Conference; Oregon State 6-3, 5-1
SERIES: California leads 33-27
LAST MEETING: Oregon State won 31-28 in Berkeley in 2007
LATEST LINE: Oregon State by 3
COACH: Jeff Tedford, sixth season (56-29), sixth overall (56-29)
OFFENSE: It has been a case of rotating QBs this season using Kevin Riley or Nate Longshore, depending who is having a good day and healthy. Riley’s suffered a concussion this season but played last week. Riley has completed 91 of 178 for 1,124 yards, 10 TDs and four INTs. Longshore has completed 78 of 133 for 846 yards, eight TDs and four INTs. RB Jahvid Best is the focal point of the offense. He has carried the ball 121 times for 766 yards and six TDs. He’s third in the Pac-10 in rushing with an average of 95.8 ypg. Best is also the team’s top receiver with 24 catches for 211 yards. The other options are WR Nyan Boateng (23 catches, 367 yards, 4 TDs) and TE Cameron Morrah (22, 284, 6).
DEFENSE: The run defense (116.6 ypg) is fourth in the Pac-10, while the pass defense (195.8 ypg) is sixth. The scoring defense is third, allowing 20.6 ppg. LB Michael Mohamed is the team’s leading tackler with 66. LB Zack Follett and DE Tyson Alualu are the big pass-rushers with five QB sacks each. CB Syd’Quan Thompson is the top cover guy with three INTs and 11 pass breakups. CB Darian Hagan has one pick and 13 pass breakups. -. The Bears are tied with Arizona in the Pac-10 for turnover margin (plus-0.9).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Bryan Anger is third in the Pac-10 with a 43.4 average. Cal is third in the Pac-10 in kickoff returns (22.7 average) and sixth in punt returns (11.4). Giorgio Tavecchio has taken over the kicking duties with David Seawright (groin) hurt. He is 6-for-8 on FGs and 11-for-11 on extra points .
NOTABLE: There are two assistant coaches with ties to OSU, Jim Michalczik (offensive line) coached there from 1999-2001 and Al Simmons (defensive backs) coached the Beavers 2001-02. Riley is the only player from Oregon on the roster. He played at Beaverton High.
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