CLIFF KIRKPATRICK
Staff Writer

CORVALLIS — Weather conditions were ugly Saturday afternoon and so was much of the play on the field. But it didn't matter to the Oregon State football team; it was the result that mattered at this point.

The Beavers dominated New Mexico on a rainy day at Reser Stadium, but only came away with only a 17-7 victory in their final non-conference game of the season.

With the game's flow, it should have been a more convincing victory.

Less than the sell-out crowd of 35,950 showed up, but most of them stayed for the much-needed first victory of the year for the Beavers (1-2).

"We didn't play the best ball we have all year, but it's a win and we'll take it," quarterback Derek Anderson said. "We did some really good things on offense, but there are still things to improve on. We caught the ball pretty well. It didn't stop raining in the second half, so it was hard for some guys to hold on to the ball."

The Beavers more than tripled the yardage New Mexico (1-2) gained with 398, while the defense returned to its past glory with four sacks and three turnovers.

Anderson completed 24 of 50 for 274 yards and two touchdowns to Joe Newton and Anthony Wheat-Brown. And there were no interceptions.

Running back Dwight Wright gained 108 yards on 30 attempts.

"I feel like I'm on cloud 9 right now," Wright said. "I think we sent a message that we can run the ball and throw the ball. Now people are going to adjust their game plan to play us. (The Lobos) have a great defense. To produce those kind of numbers against that defense will give us confidence going up against the Pac-10 Conference."

However, New Mexico hung around when OSU couldn't put the game away until the end. It took a 35-yard field goal by Alexis Serna with 3:04 left in the game to soothe the Beavers.

The Lobos' only touchdown came on a 70-yard fumble return by Josh Bazient with 6:31 left in the third quarter. The safety hit Anderson from behind and jarred the ball loose. He scooped it up on the way to his scoring jaunt.

"I've never been in a game like that where everything looked like we could do it and the defense kept getting stronger and stronger, yet until that field goal the game was in doubt," coach Mike Riley said. "It was a strange feeling, and (it was) getting kind of discouraging. I did feel nervous, but I was very impressed with our defense that we got stronger and stronger. They started moving the ball, but we adjusted."

Serna hasn't been seen on the field since the first game of the season two weeks ago, when he missed three extra points. John Dailey kicked well last week and started against New Mexico.

Dailey made both his extra points, but he missed two field goal attempts of 42 and 34 yards, wide to the left both times.

Serna, who was involved on the kickoffs, is considered a better directional kicker, so Riley eased him back into the game.

"I think it was a pressure kick," Riley said. "I thought it was a gutsy kick. I'm really glad to see him do it for many reasons."

The turning point came when New Mexico's starting quarterback Kole McKamey left the game in the second quarter due to a concussion, and the less-mobile Tali Ena took over.

McKamey was under heavy pressure in the first half, with Keith Ellison delivering two thunderous hits on sacks. The knockout blow came from Jonathan Pollard, who nailed McKamey on an option play.

The Beavers kept McKamey from any big plays. He completed only 4 of 12 for 10 yards and three rushing yards. Ena wasn't effective either, competing 3-for-18 for 29 yards.

"That's pretty big for their team," strong safety Sabby Piscitelli said. "It was good momentum for us. The second guy knew we were fast and physical. That was in his mind."

Even though the Beavers moved the ball well, there were a number of mistakes they survived:

• There were the two missed field goals, creating another kicking competition.

• A holding call negated an Anderson-to-Newton touchdown in the third quarter. The drive ended on one of the missed field goals.

• Mike Hass was in position for a sure touchdown pass in the second half, but he let the ball fall to the ground.

• Besides Anderson's fumble, Yvenson Bernard coughed up the ball on a punt return.

"There were a lot of things that weren't pretty, but I love the balance," Riley said. "There were 100 yards rushing and the many receivers who caught the ball. Those were big steps for us. Younger guys stepped up."

Even though it wasn't exactly how the Beavers would want to win the game, it's a win. It's a confidence builder after an overtime defeat and a blowout.

No one on the team called it a must-win before the game, but what the Beavers accomplished changed the outlook of the season.

"There's nothing like getting a win and building on that," Riley said. "I know all of us are going to feel better starting (today) getting ready for Arizona State next week."