Gazette-Times Reporter

Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao has a strained muscle in his throwing shoulder, coach Mike Riley said after viewing the results of an MRI.

Moevao is day-to-day, and didn’t practice Tuesday afternoon. Sean Canfield will prepare to be the starter this weekend at UCLA and a decision on who starts will be made later.

“We got good news on Lyle,” Riley said. “He has a strained muscle in his shoulder. That appears to be the extent of it according to the MRI. He should get better each day. What that means for this game, I can’t tell you, yet. We’ll see how practice goes. Sean will do the most practice.”

Moevao has some mobility without out pain, but there are movements he can’t do, yet. Trainer Barney Graff reported that Moevao should be good by Wednesday.

“I’m getting there, recovering slowly but surely,” Moevao said. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m a lot stronger than it was on Sunday. I’m having a lot of improvement the last few days without any activity.”

If Moevao can’t play and Canfield gets hurt on Saturday, redshirt freshman Justin Engstrom will play. He was the backup at the beginning of the season when Canfield was still recovering from his shoulder injury from last season.

“I’m hoping to be back,” Moevao said. “Nothing is for sure. We’ll see how the exercises go.”

Time for change?

True freshman punter Johnny Hekker was almost pulled in last weekend’s game for his extended struggles, averaging 35.9 yards this season. After averaging 36.7 yards on three poor punts in the game, if the Beavers punted again Ryan Allen was going to be used.

Allen has been traveling with the team, challenging Hekker for playing time each practice. He’s a true freshman from West Salem High. Hekker goes into the week as the starter, but if he struggles again Riley plans to use Allen.

“Ryan Allen is ready to go,” Riley said. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity for him to get in the game. We’ve talked about using Ryan. That competition is a real competition. Ryan Allen is talented, as is Johnny. Johnny just didn’t do it the last game.”

Going home

Trips to Southern California are always popular for the Beavers. They recruit the area heavily, so 28 players on the roster are from the area.

“It’s always good to go back to Cali to get me an In-and-Out Burger or two, but it’s good to see the family,” defensive end Victor Butler said. “We’ll have a home away from home crowd. And I haven’t beaten UCLA since I got here, so we have to get over the hump. So this game is really significant to me. It’s the last go around.”

Remember when?

• The Beavers were the most penalized team in the nation in 2002 (100.2 yards) and 2003 (110.2), but improved every year since. Heading into this Saturday’s game the team is 65th in the nation averaging 53 yards a game. Opponents only have 11 first downs by penalty. In comparison, opponents had 49 first downs by penalty in 2002 and 45 in 2003.

• OSU is 4-1 in the conference for the first time since 2000. That year the Beavers beat then-No. 8 USC to open the conference before losing at then-No. 13 Washington the following week. Then the Beavers ran the table for six straight Pac-10 wins to earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.

Quick hits

• OSU is on pace to score 403 points this season, which would be the third-most in school history. The 2003 team led by running back Steven Jackson scored 433 points; the 2002 team scored 414.