It would have been hard for the Beavers to have had a more
complete collapse in the second half on Saturday.
Riding a four-game winning streak ““ including a monster
upset over USC ““ Oregon State came into the Rose Bowl with
all the momentum and all the hype.
Momentum and hype were not enough for the Beavers to win.
Though the Beavers were for the most part efficient on offense
in the first half, taking a 7-6 lead into halftime, the team that
the crowd of over 67,000 saw in the second half was nowhere near
efficient.
After halftime, Oregon State found every imaginable way to give
the ball away, getting stuffed on fourth downs and fumbling twice,
missing a 30-yard field goal and punting.
“We didn’t play to our ability today,” Beavers
quarterback Matt Moore said. “It hurts.”
SLIDESHOW
Click here to see more photos from the game against Cal
Saturday.
Moore was one of the chief culprits, fumbling and turning the
ball over three times despite having been one of the most
consistent players on the Oregon State team this season.
“We’ve been on a pretty good run and playing good
football, but tonight we turned the ball over and didn’t
capitalize with some scoring opportunities,” Oregon State
coach Mike Riley said. “The game deteriorated from that
point.”
Where the Beavers stumbled, the Bruins took advantage, cashing
in on great field position throughout the day and putting up 19
second-half points. UCLA also scored in the third quarter for the
first time since playing Arizona on Oct. 7.
With the Beavers going for a fourth-and-1 on their own 48 to
start the second half, the Bruins stacked the line and stuffed
Yvenson Bernard for a 3-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
“It was about half a yard and we had moved the ball
well,” Riley said. “I thought it would give us a start.
We were at midfield so I thought it wouldn’t be a
catastrophe. It turned out to be.”
With the crowd behind them, the offense took the field and
immediately responded to the defense’s stout performance. Pat
Cowan threw a bomb down the left sideline to an open Marcus Everett
for 45 yards and a touchdown.
The Beavers never recovered.
On offense, Oregon State did string together a nine-minute drive
in the third quarter, but kicker Alexis Serna missed a 30-yard
field goal and the Beavers came up empty-handed once again.
The Bruin defense continually frustrated the Beavers, who were
tagged for eight penalties and 70 yards. In the first half, UCLA
blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt, foreshadowing what was to
come for the visitors.
VAN VS. VERNER: After defensive coordinator
DeWayne Walker re-opened competition between Rodney Van and
Alterraun Verner for a starting job at defensive back last week,
both ended up getting significant playing time on Saturday. Van
often covered Sammie Stroughter, one of the Pac-10’s leading
receivers. Stroughter was limited to four catches for 51 yards.
“He’s a pretty good receiver, but it just shows the
confidence that my coach has in me,” Van said. “I just
used my technique and the things that my coach taught me and it
just worked out for the best.”