Commentary

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
corvallis Gazette-Times

PASADENA, Calif — Sean Canfield has been feeling something special happening around the Oregon State football team.

Where that leads the Beavers will be determined over the final three regular-season games.

What the Beavers know is they are playing at a high level, have confidence and are headed to the postseason.

The Beavers became bowl eligible with their 34-6 Pacific-10 Conference victory over UCLA on Saturday night before a crowd of 83,478 in the Rose Bowl.

“It was a big win for us,” said Canfield, OSU’s quarterback for this game. “This team has been our nemesis for some time, and now coach (Mike) Riley can say he beat the Bruins.”

Several significate developments occurred in the game to lend credence to Canfield’s feelings.

It was the first win for the Beavers (6-3, 5-1) over the Bruins (3-6, 2-4) in six games. It is also the first victory for Riley against UCLA in 10 tries, including his time as offensive coordinator at Southern California.

“I really wiped it out of my mind,” Riley said of his lack of success against UCLA. “I really tried to believe this is a new team, a new deal. The fact is this team, the 2008 Beavers, haven’t played UCLA (before Saturday). Our approach was all new here, so let’s get a win.”

The Beavers had to face several setbacks to get this win. Overcoming them shows the heart of the team.

Starting quarterback Lyle Moevao wasn’t available after he injured his throwing shoulder last week. There was no way he could have gone in as a backup, Riley said.

Canfield’s surgically-repaired shoulder was ready in time last week to lead the Beavers to a win over Arizona State. He kept going this week with another strong performance.

“It was a little shaky in the first half, but we came out in the second half and were on track,” Canfield said. “We just settled down, running what we run. We got the run game going and made some throws down field.”

Canfield completed 16 of 22 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, to Sammie Stroughter and Jacquizz Rodgers.

He threw an interception at UCLA’s 1-yard line in the second quarter, but was unfazed. Just like last Saturday when he threw an interception, he improved after the mistake.

“He hit some balls in the second half and looked pretty good,” Riley said. “He was late with some balls. But again, I commend him for keeping his poise, coming back and leading this team in the second half. That was the best thing that happened to him.”

The Beavers have reached the point where the offense can score points and win games with either quarterback.

They even filled in for the loss of one of the starting wide receivers. Shane Morales hurt his hip Friday in the team’s walk-through, but Casey Kjos filled in and extra tight ends helped.

While the offense was finding itself, the defense didn’t allow a touchdown. They forced four turnovers — three interceptions and a fumble.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft was pressured hard, and sacked three times. He was 20-for-42 but for only 189 yards.

“The defense was playing really good,” offensive guard Adam Speer said. “Offensively, once we started running the ball we knew we were going to start rolling. And the defense put us in great position a lot of the time.”

Now it is on to improving where the they end up in the pecking order of the Pac-10 bowl games. They’ll go to no lower than the fourth-place Las Vegas Bowl, and for every win to end the season they move up.

The Sun Bowl wants them, but if they win out they are back here Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl as Pac-10 champs.

“Coming into every season the Rose Bowl and Pac-10 championship is in the back of everybody’s mind,” Canfield said. “But something coach Riley really preaches is taking it one game at a time. It’s an old cliche, but our team buys into that and it contributes to our success.”

Cliff Kirkpatrick covers the Oregon State football team for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. He can be reached at cliff.kirkpatrick@lee.net.