■ Pac-10 game of the week
Oregon State takes on No. 8
UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl
The Beavers seem to be gathering momentum
coming off a win against No. 25 California
BY JEFFREY DRANSFELDT
SPORTS REPORTER
Two weeks ago this game might
have been an afterthought.
Oregon State against UCLA might
have been little more than a reunion
for Oregon State quarterback Matt
Moore. However, Oregon State’s 23
20 upset of No. 25 California last
week changed that.
Now, Oregon State’s- match-up
with No. 8 UCLA set for the 4 p.m. at
the Rose Bowl looms large for both
teams. The Beavers’ win against Cal
keeps them within distance of second
place behind No. 1 USC. UCLA over
came a one-time 21-point deficit
against Washington State to earn a
44-41 overtime win.
Moore faces quarterback Drew Ol
son, who has solidified his hold on
the starting position two years after
competing with the Oregon State
starter. The once embattled Olson
has led three consecutive fourth
quarter comebacks against Washing
ton, Cal and Washington State.
Months ago he competed with in
coming recruit Ben Olson and ques
tions remained. He entered the sea
son coming off leg injuries to his
anterior cruciate and medial collat
eral ligaments in last season’s Las
Vegas Bowl.
Consider the questions answered;
his veteran poise and return to health
has helped him in close games and al
lowed him to accumulate 1,612 yards
passing and 15 touchdown passes.
The combination of Drew Olson and
powerful tailback Maurice Drew has
UCLA confirming head coach Karl
Dorrell’s coaching philosophy and put
ting themselves in the running for a
major bowl appearance.
Two years ago feels like 20 consid
ering the changes between Olson and
Moore’s careers. Moore played in she
games as a true freshman after in
juries to Olson and Cory Paus. Like
'wise in 2003, it was another inconsis
tent season as Moore started four
games out of eight appearances and
missed another three games due to a
leg injury. Overall, Moore threw for
555 yards in 2003 and 412 in 2002.
After 2003, he chose to transfer, at
tending College of the Canyons and
not playing football. He came to Ore
gon State this fall and was immedi
ately eligible to compete. The 6-foot
4, 191 pound quarterback has been
solid, forming a potent combo with
Mike Hass, as the California native
has thrown
for 1,766
yards and sev
en touch
downs with a
199.69 effi
c i e n c y
rating.
Hass has caught 51 passes — dou
ble the next closest receiver — for
848 yards.
Prior to Cal, Oregon State’s bowl
chances were questionable, having
been blown out by Louisville and
Arizona State in recent weeks. They
also forged a comeback against
Washington State at home.
“Our team is pretty tough-minded;
we’ve been through a lot,” Oregon
State head coach Mike Riley said.
“We fought back in two of the best
comebacks that I’ve been involved
in. Our team never thought we could
n’t stop (Cal), and that we couldn’t
move the ball.”
More surprising was that Oregon
State did it despite a struggling run
ning game led by Yvenson Bernard.
His backup, Jimtavis Walker, left the
team earlier in the week. Bernard
responded with a career-high 185
yards and scored the go-ahead
touchdown with 6:41 remaining in
the fourth quarter.
The usual combo of Moore to Hass
was a non-factor. Hass only caught
four passes for 17 yards. The running
game helped Oregon State overcome
numerous mistakes, including three
interceptions by Moore.
Cal had relied on Marshawn Lynch
and Justin Forsett in a 5-1 start.
Lynch had 58 yards, before being
benched in the second quarter after
fumbling twice. Forsett, Lynch’s able
replacement in his two game’s
missed earlier this season, had 17
yards on nine carries.
Quarterback Joe Ayoob did little bet
ter, completing 13 of 39 passes with
219 yards and two interceptions.
1 h i s
against an
Oregon
State de
fense sta
tistically
among
the bot
tom of the Pacific-10 Conference rank
ings. Cal had 315 total yards — as a
team they average 450 per game. In
cluding Cal, Oregon State is allowing
443.8 yards of total offense per game.
“It’s been five years since we beat a
ranked team,” said linebacker Andy
Darkins of a streak stretching eight
games. “This was without a doubt the
biggest win of the season so far. We are
going to roll with this.”
The confidence builder has Oregon
State thinking big against UCLA.
“Just to win against a top 25 team is
huge,” Moore said of the Cal game.
“Coming into the UCLA game next
week is big, especially with it being an
other road game.”
jdransfeldt@ daily emerald, com
“Our team never thought we
couldn’t stop (Cal). ”
Mike Riley | Oregon State head coach
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>URTESY
UCLA’s Drew Olson
has led the Bruins to a
6-0 record and a No. 9
ranking in the first
Bowl Championship
Series poll. UCLA will
take on Oregon State
on Saturday at the
Rose Bowl.
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