Sean Canfield expressed the most basic approach to the game after the Oregon State football team defeated UCLA on Saturday night.

A win's a win.

The quarterback didn't reach for some higher level of thought he studies as a philosophy major. He looked at the victory for what it was.

It put the Beavers on the winning track again, one victory away from bowl eligibility.

Canfield also used those terms because the Beavers were thrilled they didn't let the win slip away after playing three-plus quarters of good football in all areas.

They needed a game-winning drive in the final two minutes to earn the 26-19 Pacific-10 Conference victory.

"It seems like we wait to the last drive, and I don't know why that is," Canfield said. "But a win is a win. We'll look at the film and correct the little things all the way across the board."

Coach Mike Riley agreed with that sentiment after reviewing the game video Sunday. He saw the good and the bad, and there were more positives because of the final score.

Riley liked the diversity of the offense, running with different ball carriers and passing to a variety of receivers.

The Beavers (5-3, 3-2), however, settled for five field goal attempts by Justin Kahut, four of which he made. The lack of touchdowns on those drives allowed UCLA to tie the game on two quick scores.

"You can never relax in football - not that we relaxed," Riley said. "The only way to get back in it was get a couple big plays, and they did. I thought we kept our composure, made some plays, scored a touchdown and won the game."

However, the defense still needs development. Lapses on those two drives nearly led to defeat.

One came off a long, quick TD pass and the other was when UCLA put the defense on its heals for a quality scoring drive.

Riley chalks it up to a learning experience for his first-year starters in the secondary. Players have to not only finish making a play on the ball, but not get out of position to make the tackle if they can't make the play.

"That's competition of a football game," Riley said. "The other team is trying to make those plays too. We weren't very far ahead, but they had hardly gained any yards. We played good defense, but we have to play 60 minutes."

Special teams have been solid to good this season, but three isolated breakdowns built into what could have lost the game.

The Beavers tried to vary the punt returns with one or two returners. When they did that they needed to pull a blocker.

Miscommunication occurred in the fourth quarter and they had 12 men on the field. That kept a UCLA drive alive and the Bruins eventually scored.

"We committed the biggest sin in football," Riley said. "When you are in position to get the ball back, you can't give it back. We had every opportunity to lose that game in that stretch."

The Beavers tried a rare fake field goal, and took too long. They exposed the play and got a penalty at the same time.

That led to Kahut trying a 47-yarder that he missed. He hit it straight, but kicked it only 46 yards.

"I don't know why we had that problem," Riley said of the delay penalty. "It looked like we called it on time. Maybe (holder) Taylor (Kavanaugh) had a hard time communicating with people. That was disappointing but now teams have to be aware of it. Sometimes it's not bad they know we have it. They have to prepare for it. It might slow them down a bit."

Quick hits

WR James Rodgers (bruised foot) didn't work out Sunday, but should return to practice Tuesday. ... CB Tim Clark left Saturday's game due to a headache. ... OT Timi Oshinowo (knee) and S Anthony Watkins (shoulder) are expected to return to practice this week.