The Oregon State Beavers’ second-half resurgence has taken on a sort of dynamism unseen in recent years. Witness the Beavers’ season opener on Aug. 28, on the road against a Stanford team hungry for a bowl berth. Oregon State sleepwalked through the game, giving it away on a last-second fumble out of the end zone (a cringe-inducing play for Duck fans, reminiscent of Cameron Colvin against Cal last year) by wide receiver Darrell Catchings. Now, on the brink of the 112th Civil War, Oregon State is one win away from its first Rose Bowl appearance since 1965.
Jacquizz Rodgers left an indelible stamp on the Texas high school record books, rushing for 8,245 yards (sixth-most ever) and 136 touchdowns (most ever). The 5-foot-7 pinball of a running back has taken his game to another level in the Pacific-10 Conference, leading the league in rushing (113.9 yards per game) as a near-lock to win Freshman of the Year honors. Rodgers combines tremendous leg drive with patience, often hiding behind blockers and waiting for holes. Oregon State coaches deemed Rodgers ‘doubtful’ Tuesday because of a second-degree sprain in his shoulder suffered against Arizona. Head coach Mike Riley said a final decision will be made later this week.
Who leads the Pac-10 in passing yards per game? Surprisingly, the Beavers have held off USC in this category with 242.7 yards per game. Due to injury difficulties,
a legitimate question has arisen as to who will see the field against the Ducks: regular starter Lyle Moevao, the 5-foot-11 scrambling quarterback, or Sean Canfield, the 6-foot-4 pocket passer. Moevao is 33 yards away from 2,000 passing yards on the season, with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Whoever does end up under center has a host of targets to choose from. Sammie Stroughter leads the Beavers with 57 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns, and his ability to create spacing makes him a dangerous target. James Rodgers – Jacquizz’s older brother – is a speedster who averages 12.2 yards per reception and nine yards per carry on designed run plays. Junior college transfer Shane Morales has developed into an underneath slot receiver who will make defenses pay for focusing too much on the outside; he has 44 carries for 596 yards. Tight ends Brady Camp and Howard Croom are also both threats in the passing game.
But for all the talk of offensive production, Oregon State prides itself on a stout defense that ranks second in the Pac-10 in total defense. Ends Slade Norris and Victor Butler have combined on 15 sacks and 31 tackles for loss as one of the best defensive end tandems in the nation. In the middle, sophomore defensive tackle Stephen Paea is developing a reputation as a player with a mean streak. The reigning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week, a converted rugby player, has nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks among his 30 tackles this year.
Of any positional unit, the Beavers are renowned for an often nameless but productive linebacking corps; middle linebacker Keaton Kristick (72 tackles; 13.0 tackles for loss) is the best of the bunch. The pass defense (fourth in the Pac-10) is anchored by the play of standout safeties Greg Laybourn and Al Afalava. Afalava has two interceptions and seven pass breakups on the year, and he’s known as one of the Pac-10’s fiercest hitters. Laybourn – most recognized as the player who intercepted Mark Sanchez’s pass that led to the winning touchdown in the Beavers’ 27-21 victory over USC – leads the conference in tackles with 94.
The biggest adjustment Oregon State has had to make, one could argue, is in the kicking game after losing Alexis Serna. Sophomore kicker Justin Kahut has made 31 of 33 extra points and the game-winning field goal against Arizona last week, but his range is still suspect (3 of 8 from beyond 40 yards). Freshman punter Johnny Hekker had an abysmal start to his Oregon State career (he recorded a 25.7-yard average on three punts against Stanford). Although Hekker has since improved and settled down, the Beavers still rank eighth in the conference in punting, averaging 38.5 yards a kick.
[email protected]