When Oregon State football coach Mike Riley began thinking about preparing his defense for the next game, he had to make adjustments to the scout team.

It's not something people typically think about in the game plan. You just run out the freshmen who are redshirting in their positions and tell them to run the opponent's plays.

The 16th-ranked Beavers, however, don't have just any opponent or just any game. They face No. 10 Oregon on Dec. 3 in Autzen Stadium to determine who goes to the Rose Bowl.

Oregon runs the spread offense with a strong-armed, fleet-footed quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli. He dissected the Beavers last season with 274 passing yards and three touchdown passes, and added 53 rushing yards and one touchdown.

"When you see that kind of greatness, you know what you are looking at," Riley said. "We have respect for him and he tore us up last year."

OSU doesn't have a quarterback who can emulate Masoli's athletic ability in practice for the defense. Jack Lomax, Cody Vaz and Peter Lalich are all pocket passers.

So Riley recruited freshman cornerback Rashaad Reynolds to run the Oregon offense. He was a spread quarterback at San Fernando High in Los Angeles.

"It's hard to simulate that offense, but we are going to try," Riley said.

Lomax primarily ran the passing plays Monday, but Reynolds ran the option plays.

"He did good," linebacker Keaton Kristick said of Reynolds. "He's shifty like Masoli. We just have to hit him a little more, but not too much; we are friends."

Masoli has continued the kind of success he had last season to this season. He has completed 154 of 264 passes for 1,865 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. His running remains potent with an average of 5.9 yards a carry with 12 touchdowns.

Style points are important, with Masoli being a human highlight film. He was named the Pac-10 offensive player of the week after throwing three touchdown passes and running for three more in a double-overtime victory at Arizona on Saturday.

"He's just a terrific player," Riley said. "He's great at running the offense. He seems like the perfect guy for what they do. He's a great runner, can make you miss or run over you. I think he has a very good arm. The ball comes out nice. He really fits what they do."

Making the Ducks more challenging are the support personnel. Freshman running back LaMichael James is third in the Pac-10 in rushing with 119.1 yards a game. He has scored 11 TDs.

James is similar to OSU's Jacquizz Rodgers as a compact bruiser who pounds the ball between the tackles. If he finds an opening, he has great straightaway speed.

"He emerged and became a real factor in our conference," Riley said. "He has that great speed and quickness."

James and Masoli combine to create the top scoring and rushing offense in the Pac-10. Guessing if James goes up the middle, or if Masoli runs around the end, is the problem. They spread defenses out and create gaps for ball carriers to find.

"They are a tough team to defend because they have a good runner and a quarterback," Riley said. "It's all the parts and we have to be sound. There's a lot of assignment football. There are in every game, but more so here."

However, the Ducks are not all about offense. The defense and special teams have excelled.

Oregon does well against the pass thanks to a strong pass rush and tight coverage that has resulted in 30 quarterback sacks and 13 interceptions. And the Ducks contain the run.

The kicking game has been consistent, and the return game can be dynamic.

"That's been a big factor on their team," Riley said. "They've impacted games on defense and on special teams. They've had big returns and a lot of defense. We'll have to be well-schooled in what they are doing. There are three phases of the game. They are not just an offensive team. They have a great overall team."