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Orange crush Cougars

Eight takeaways spark Beavers' 52-17 romp past Cougars

By Kerry Eggers

LocalNewsDaily.com, Nov 17, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

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PULLMAN, Wash. – The weather was miserable, but for Oregon State, it may as well have been 80 degrees with a tropical breeze in Maui.

With OSU’s defense running roughshed, the Beavers had a fun-in-the-sun type Saturday, storming past Washington State 52-17 Saturday at Martin Stadium.

The Beavers scored 31 points off eight Cougar turnovers, spoiling the final home appearance for 20 Washington State seniors. They included quarterback Alex Brink, who tied the school record with six interceptions.

It wasn’t the kind of send-off the former Sheldon High standout envisioned. The Beavers took advantage of six first-half turnovers – including five picks – to score 24 points and march to a 31-3 halftime lead.

From that point, the game clock couldn’t run fast enough for Oregon State (7-4 overall, 5-3 in Pac-10 play), which earned its fifth win in six games, clinched a winning season and enhanced its bowl positioning while eliminating Washington State (4-7, 2-6) from bowl contention.

“I’m really proud of our players and our coaching staff,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “It’s always tough to play (the Cougars), but our guys played with preparation and tenacity. The combination of the two was evident.”

The Beavers are finishing the season in reminiscent fashion to a year ago, when they won eight of nine after a 2-3 start to go 10-4. It’s remarkable with the number of defections and injuries and player losses the Men in Orange have sustained since August training camp.

“I’m proud of the way the team has kept playing and gotten better,” Riley said. “You play every week and don’t worry too much about the past, learn from it, go on and play the next game and things take care of themselves. This team has learned to live in the moment, and it’s paying off.”

Oregon State is in position to tie for the conference title. Mathematically, at least, it’s possible with a win at Oregon on Dec. 1.

“I’m just glad this team is going to a bowl game,” Riley said. “It’s good for our fans and our school, and the development of our young players. We have a good senior class, and I wanted them to experience a bowl game.

“Just being 6-6 and bowl-eligible is different than actually being in one, and for sure we solidified that. Now we’ll try to make it better.”

Some felt, on a wet, cold day, OSU’s mission would be to tread water until the second half, when defensive players Brandon Hughes, Bryan Payton and James Dockery – suspended for the first half after being ejected from OSU’s victory over Washington last Saturday – would return.

But the Beavers stunned the Senior Day crowd with three touchdowns in the first quarter to assume a 21-0 lead. Oregon State led by 28 points at intermission despite having one touchdown called back by penalty and another by an official’s ruling.

Much of that happened because of a relentless Oregon State defense that held Washington State to 83 yards rushing and made Brink’s swan song in Pullman miserable.

“We didn’t execute very well offensively early, and there was a lot of pressure,” said Brink, who threw for 314 yards, though much of it game after the issue was decided. “Their front seven is a great group, as good as we’ve seen. Their ends were able to get pressure on us, their linebackers are fast, they dropped guys into coverage and it was tough.

“If you don’t play turnover-free and aren’t able to run the ball, you’re out of luck. Against a group like that, they’re going to keep your points low.”

By the end of the third quarter, with the Beavers in front 38-10, there couldn’t have been 5,000 among a crowd announced at 22,660 who hadn’t departed for the exits. By the time it was over, with the vast majority of fans still left wearing orange, Oregon State had scored its most points ever in the 92-game history of the series.

“We got some pressure on the quarterback, and were in the right place at the right time,” said linebacker Joey LaRocque, who had six tackles and the Beavers’ first interception. “There was a lot of good coverage behind us, and plays were made. That’s what football’s all about. We made some things happen today.”

The biggest number of the day for Oregon State was 8-0 – takeaways (seven interceptions, one fumble) to giveaways. Quite something different than early in the season, when Canfield was the national leader in interceptions and Oregon State No. 1 in turnovers.

“Isn’t that something?” Riley marveled. “That’s so much the difference in our team than two months ago. We just got after them defensively. Our pressure was good and guys were opportunistic. We capitalized most of the time.”

Oregon State had a balanced offensive attack, with 218 yards rushing and 213 yards passing. Quarterback Lyle Moevao – in his second start in place of injured Sean Canfield – was much better than in last Saturday’s win over Washington, completing 15 of 28 passes for 202 yards and a TD with, of course, no interceptions.

“Lyle had some big plays for us,” Riley said. “He made some tough, big-time throws.”

Moevao said a good week of practice “made me feel really comfortable.”

“Our offensive line did a great job of picking up the pressure they brought,” the 5-11, 230-pound sophomore said. “It made it easy for me. I just came out and delivered the ball. Playing in rain is always something different you have to deal with, but I got used to it pretty quick.”

The O-line did a nice job opening holes for Beavers Yvenson Bernard, Clinton Polk, Matt Sieverson and James Rodgers, who all had productive days running the ball.

“Lyle did a good job moving around the pocket, and we did outstanding running the ball,” said senior tackle Roy Schuening, who tied the OSU record with his 48th career start. “It was a concern because of how (the Cougars) blitz and the type of defense they play (3-4). That shuts down your cutbacks, but we got after it.

“Ev did a great job, and the backups came in and did great. They hit the holes. Our line came out and did our job today. It’s a great feeling.”

Oregon State took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards in 11 plays on its first possession. Moevao hooked up with Darrell Catchings for three passes on the drive, and Bernard set up Moevao’s one-yard TD sneak with a darting 22-yard run on the stretch around right end.

On its first possession, Washington State went to the fake punt on fourth-and-11 at the Oregon State 47, and Jeshua Anderson was nailed for a three-yard loss. The Beavers took over at midfield but didn’t move and were forced to punt.

On first-and-10 from the WSU 22, Christopher Ivory was stripped by OSU’s Dennis Drayton on a sweep left. Drayton took the ball 27 yards into the end zone, but was ruled down where he grabbed the ball. And teammate Keenan Lewis was called for a personal foul on the play, pushing the Beavers back 15 yards and giving them the ball at the Cougar 42.

From there, Oregon State moved swiftly in four plays into the end zone. Rodgers went 17 yards with a bubble screen to the WSU 18, and Bernard covered the final territory on a stretch play left to put the Beavers in front 14-0 with 6:22 left in the first quarter.

The Oregon State defense forced a break with Washington State’s next series. Under pressure, Brink threw on the run, and his pass was intercepted by LaRocque, who returned it 10 yards to the WSU 30. It took the Beavers seven plays to find paydirt, Rodgers taking it the final eight yards on the fly sweep for a 21-0 advantage with 1:36 remaining in the period.

Washington State got on the board early in the second quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Romeen Abdollmohammadi.

The OSU defense rose again when the Cougars got the ball back. Stepping in front of a receiver, Beaver linebacker Derrick Doggett returned an interception 20 yards to the WSU 21. On third-and-six from the 17, Moevao did a beautiful job looking off the first option and finding Shane Morales all alone in the end zone. But the touchdown was nullified by an ineligible receiver call.

On third-and-11, Moevao found Rodgers for a 13-yard reception and a first down at the WSU nine. But the Beavers settled for a 22-yard Alexis Serna field goal and a 24-3 lead with 8:08 remaining in the second period.

Oregon State was in business again when Brink, under pressure, threw the ball into the hands of OSU defensive end Jeff Van Orsow, who returned it 17 yards to the WSU 18. Four plays later, Bernard scored on a two-yard run and the Beavers’ lead was 31-3.

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