Gazette-Times Reporter

People are starting to wonder about Lyle Moevao’s connection with Shane Morales.

The Oregon State football team’s quarterback finds Morales more often than others when looking down field for receivers. There are other options with well-established Sammie Stroughter and James Rodgers on the field, not to mention the tight ends and running backs.

However, it’s Morales who leads the team in receiving with 22 catches for 284 yards. He’s tied for first in the Pacific-10 Conference with 7.3 catches a game.

“It’s funny a lot of guys ask me if he’s my No. 1 receiver, but I don’t have a No. 1 receiver,” Moevao said. “A lot of guys would think Sammie would be.

“The thing is it’s so tough to defend an offensive like ours because there are three great receivers out there. If you double team one, there’s two more you have to worry about. There are only so many defensive backs you can put out on the field at one time.”

Morales is in the midst of a breakout season, his third with the Beavers. The senior slot receiver from Valencia, Calif., joined the program in 2006 after one year with the College of the Canyons.

He had one catch his first season and 16 last year. His production this year, which includes two touchdowns, has already blown by his previous work.

“I can’t complain about what’s happening,” Morales said. “I felt good before, but I haven’t been as comfortable as now.

“Now they call a play, I line up and run it. I have no second-guessing anymore.”

Morales played sparingly behind Brandon Powers for two seasons because coach Mike Riley trusted Powers as a possession receiver and blocker.

When Powers’ eligibility ran out, Rodgers moved into the slot in the offseason to get him on the field more. That kept Morales in the same situation.

“I’ve always thought he was a good player,” Riley said of Morales. “He was playing behind Brandon Powers and sharing time. It was appropriate then.”

Circumstances changed Morales’ status after the first game. The Beavers fell behind and needed to pass, and a group of plays called for Morales to be on the field.

He finished the game with 13 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. A lineup change was in order as Morales needed to be in the lineup more, so Rodgers moved back to flanker.

“It wasn’t dramatic, but he made catches,” Riley said. “He kept emerging more and more as a reliable player. He has grown into a leadership role, and that’s the biggest difference. Everyone has confidence in him. If you make catches, the quarterback gains confidence in you.”

All the factors of development were met for Morales this season. Working in the weight room, experience and opportunity came together for his success.

His knowledge and physical tools work well together in his position. Safeties or linebackers are asked to cover him, and he can out-maneuver them. His 6-foot-1, 209-pound frame gives him a large target area for the quarterback.

“We thought Shane was getting better and more comfortable in the system,” Riley said. “He has a feel for those routes. He finds the soft spots behind linebackers, and he understands what he has to do.”

It also helps that defensive coordinators are worried about Stroughter, who is the big-play threat. Stroughter gets extra attention, which leaves Morales one-on-one situations with his linebacker.

By the design of the offense Stroughter is Moevao’s No. 1 receiver as the split end. Most of the time Morales is No. 2 or lower in the order of the quarterback’s reads.

When he’s wide-open all the time, Moevao is eager to get to him.

“If they start covering me, it will open things up for Sammie and James,” Morales said. “I’m happy with being an afterthought. It’s fine with me.”