Notebook

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times Reporter

Two injured starters on the Oregon State football team are progressing in their recovery, but their status for Saturday’s game against California is uncertain this early in the week.

Quarterback Lyle Moevao plans to test his arm in practice, but it is still sore when he throws the deep ball. His shoulder was injured Nov. 1 against Arizona State, and he missed last Saturday’s game at UCLA.

A decision by coach Mike Riley as to whom the starter will be between Moevao and Sean Canfield will happen later this week, and could be a game-time decision.

“Sean will be ready, and Lyle is getting closer,” Riley said Tuesday. “(Monday, quarterback coach) Danny Langsdorf asked him where he was percentage-wise and he thought 80 percent. Knowing Lyle, that means 60 or 70 percent. I do think he’s getting close to ready to go.”

Moevao said he’s really about 70 percent, but believes he’ll be able to play. It’s just a matter of how much pain he can take when he throws deep.

He practiced Tuesday, sharing time on the first string with Canfield. Moevao’s passes didn’t have the usual zip and the ball fluttered at times.

If he were to sit out a month he would be able to return with no discomfort, but Moevao doesn’t want to wait that long.

“I look forward to playing this week, but it’s all up to coach Riley and how comfortable he is with me going in with what he sees in the week,” Moevao said. “I’m sure his decision will be the best like it’s always been.”

While Moevao has been out, Canfield has excelled, leading the Beavers to two wins. He’s playing as well as he did before his shoulder injury last year.

“I was just happy we won,” Moevao said of watching Canfield. “I’m there to support him. I know exactly how he feels. This time last year he was in the same situation of having everything going for him and then being injured. He was less fortunate because I can come back (this season).”

Wide receiver Shane Morales wasn’t seriously hurt from his incident. Monday’s X-rays showed he suffered a strained muscle in his right hip as expected.

“Shane got all checked out,” Riley said. “I don’t have the final reports, but the first reports were very positive.”

Morales is coming back slowly this week and expects to play. If he can’t go, Casey Kjos will take his place like he did the last game.

The story behind the injury is the most interesting. It happened during a walk-through Friday before the team left for Los Angeles.

Morales caught a touchdown pass and tried to dunk the ball over the goalpost, like he has done many times before.

“The post stopped him,” Riley said. “It was kind of funny and everybody was laughing. But then Lyle says he might hurt, so I was really worried about him.”

Morales said the leap is easy, but for some reason he decided against going all the way midway through. That hesitation allowed the post to block him and send him crashing to the ground.

“I just landed funny,” Morales said. “It’s a little tight now, but a week of rehab and I’ll be ready.”

Moonlighting

Safety Greg Laybourn is tied for the Pac-10 lead in tackles with 8.33 a game. He leads the team with 75, 16 more than linebacker Keaton Kristick. However, Laybourn is picking up extra tackles on special teams.

He leads the Beavers in special teams tackles with 12, followed by safety Austin Hall with nine, safety Lance Mitchell with eight and cornerback Brandon Hardin and Kjos with six.

“He has instincts, heart and knowledge of what we do,” Riley said. “He takes a ton of pride in it. He plays very smart. And he does not want to come out on special teams. He’s on the kickoff and punt teams, and they are big for us in field position.”

Walker candidate

True freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers was named one of 10 semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s to running back.

Three finalists will be named Nov. 24 by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, and the winner will be announced Dec. 11.

Hendricks Award

Senior defensive end Victor Butler is on the 33-player watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, which honors the nation’s top end. Finalists will be determined the last week of the season and the winner announced Dec. 10.

QB decision made

Kevin Riley will be Cal’s starting quarterback Saturday, coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday during the Pacific-10 Conference media conference call. The starter has been either Riley or Nate Longshore, depending on their health and how they have played.