Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Seattle Post Intelligencer: Pac-10 matchup in Berkeley features Beavers and Bears

The Oregon State Beavers and the California Golden Bears will clash this weekend in what figures to be a competitive Pac-10 contest.  Oregon State has won three of its last four outings to move to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. The most recent triumph occurred over UCLA on Saturday by a 26-19 final in thrilling fashion. All three losses this season have come by 10 or fewer points, and OSU can become eligible for the postseason with a win over California.

Speaking of the Golden Bears, they have won their last three outings to move to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The win streak put the Bears back in the top-25 this week, coming in at 23rd in the nation. Prior to Saturday's tilt against Arizona State, all seven of their contests had been decided by double figures. The game against the Sun Devils was extremely close, however, and Jeff Tedford has to be proud of the fact that his team escaped the road affair with a 23-21 triumph. California owns a 33-28 series edge over Oregon State, but the Beavers have won the last two meetings.

Oregon State is scoring 29.4 ppg this season to go along with 408.6 total ypg. The Beavers have some talented offensive performers, but none more exciting than tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. Through eight games, he has rushed for 922 yards and 14 touchdowns while also hauling in 49 receptions for 371 yards and a score. Clearly, Rodgers is a frontrunner for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors. His brother, James Rodgers, is second on the team in rushing and first in receiving with 60 grabs for 706 yards and five scores. Sean Canfield has started all eight games at quarterback for the Beavers and has connected on 68.9 percent of his throws for 2,039 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. James Rodgers played hero for Oregon State last weekend, as he scored on a 17-yard run with 44 seconds remaining to break a 19-19 tie and lead his team to victory. Jacquizz threw a touchdown pass in the tilt, and the versatile talent posted 112 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards.

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