Gazette-Times Reporter

Oregon State football coach Mike Riley likes how the schedule falls the next two weeks and even suggests it for the instate rival.

The Beavers go into their second bye week of the season on the heels of a 52-17 Pacific-10 Conference road victory over Washington State on Saturday night.

Up next in two weeks is the Civil War.

“I like the schedule,” Riley said Sunday night. “I wish we could have it like this every year. It would be fair for both teams if we could both work it out.

“It’s good to have Thanksgiving at home. It’s good for everybody, the fans even.”

The Beavers (7-4, 5-3) will practice today and Tuesday, and then break for Thanksgiving. The players report back Sunday to prepare for the regular season finale in Autzen Stadium.

Young players will be worked hard this week, while the game plan for Oregon is installed.

There’s a feeling among the players that they can keep improving and enhance their bowl game status.

“It feels great to have another game,” outside linebacker Derrick Doggett said of the postseason. “We just have to prepare for Oregon. We can still get better. We have to keep on getting better every week.”

Oregon, however, doesn’t have the same break as the Beavers this year. The Ducks were hit with a rash of injuries to star players in their last game and have to play at UCLA on Nov. 24 before the Beavers on Dec. 1.

Riley and the players felt bad for Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, who is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury. They wanted to face their rival at full strength.

The Ducks could be beat up some more while the Beavers rest and prepare.

“You never know how that plays out,” Riley said. “I’m not thinking about them, but us.

“When the game is over, then you’ll say it’s an advantage or disadvantage depending on who you are.”

The Beavers will take what they have for now with consecutive wins against Washington and Washington State. It’s momentum and a time to heal.

“We have a tough game next,” offensive lineman Roy Schuening said. “Those guys are going to be ready to play. We are going to spend two weeks getting ready for those guys.”

Starting tailback Yvenson Bernard sat out the second half of Saturday’s game with a sore knee. It felt better Sunday, but he will have an MRI today as a precaution.

Doggett suffered a sprained wrist and quarterback Lyle Moevao has a sore hip from the game.

The extra time off allows cornerback Keenan Lewis and defensive end Dorian Smith to come back fully from their knee injuries. There are several others who need the break.

Starting quarterback Sean Canfield may have a chance to play after injuring his throwing shoulder two weeks ago at Southern California. Riley hopes to have him playing soon.

“I think at this point it’s possible,” Riley said of Canfield’s possible return against Oregon.

The Beavers have not won in Autzen Stadium in six attempts dating back to 1993. This could be the year with the Ducks reeling and the Beavers peaking.

OSU also hopes to improve its bowl standing as the fourth-place team in the Pac-10. Riley hasn’t heard from bowl representatives, yet.

The Emerald Bowl in San Francisco and the Las Vegas Bowl appear the most likely destinations. The third-place Pac-10 bowl is the Sun Bowl, but it has an optional no-repeat clause looming.

A three-game winning streak and a victory over the No. 9-ranked Ducks go a long way in the decision-making.

“Strong finishers is pretty accurate when describing us,” outside linebacker Joey LaRocque said. “Hopefully, we can finish strong and keep on winning. Here we go.”

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