Oregon State-Hawaii: Beavers Look for Pot of Gold Versus (Rainbow) Warriors

Week Three brings a much-needed home game for Oregon State. 

After starting 0-2 in two road games—the only BCS team to do so—it will be nice to enjoy the comforts of Reser Stadium and a hungry Beaver faithful.

The Hawaii Warriors (1-1) travel to the Willamette Valley for a non-conference matchup against the Beavers.  Hawaii can relate to OSU's thumping at the hands of Penn State.  The Warriors traveled to Florida and were embarrassed by the Gators the first week of the season, 56-10.

Hawaii may think twice next time the idea of scheduling an SEC team comes up.

Week Two got Hawaii into the win column with a visit from Weber State.  New head man Greg McMackin picked up his first win of the season, and first career victory, after overcoming a 10-point deficit at the half to win 36-17.

The Warriors' spread passing attack is nothing new to the Beavers.  In 2006 Oregon State traveled to play Colt 'n Co. and beat then-No. 24 Hawaii 35-32 on their way to a 10-win season and a Sun Bowl win versus Missouri. 

That, however, was in December '06, and that was a completely different OSU squad than what we will see come this Saturday.

Hawaii has a new look to their 2008 team after they lost tremendous production from last year's offense. 

Graduation marked the departure of their NCAA-record-holding quarterback Colt Brennan and talented receivers Jason Rivers, Davone Bess, C.J. Hawthorne, and Ryan Grice-Mullen.

In Week One, Hawaii was overmatched by SEC power Florida.  However, in Week Two, the offense picked up speed and started looking like the Warrior offense of old.

The Warrior attack was perfectly balanced, rushing 34 times for 133 yards and passing 34 times for 305 yards.  The vastly popular spread offense that Hawaii runs should test Oregon State's secondary and prepare them well for the remainder of their Pac-10 season.

OSU will need good corner play from Brandon Hughes and Keenan Lewis, as well as help from veteran safety Al Afalava.  Lewis is coming off a great performance against Penn State—one of the few good things about Week Two—but needs to turn opportunities into interceptions.

With their inability to stop the run, the Beavers could see a steady dose of the run game Saturday.  The Warriors have four backs that have double-digit carries and combine to average just under 100 yards a game.

Oregon State has given up 449 yards rushing in two games.  After the 70 yards per game OSU gave up last year on the ground, the defense needs to find and reproduce what made them the No. 1 rush defense in the nation last season.

Aside from the run defense, or lack thereof, penalties and turnovers have killed Oregon State.  The Beavs are averaging 88 yards per game in penalties and have forced only one turnover while turning the ball over five times.

Costly turnovers in the red zone have hindered the Beaver offense from putting up the numbers they are capable of. 

Week Three has become a "must win" for Oregon State.  Starting out 0-3 would put tremendous pressure on the team to even make a bowl game.

While OSU doesn't have the home winning percentage they would like over the past few years, it will be good to play in front of the home crowd.

The Beavers need offensive balance and production.  The next two weeks will be a test of the team's growth in the first quarter of the season.  After a bye week, No. 1 USC visits Reser Stadium before OSU travels to face No. 22 Utah.

Defensively, OSU needs to fly to the football and hold on.  Poor tackling has haunted the Beavs thus far in '08.

The Beavs look to extend their non-conference home winning streak to 25 after Saturday.  They also lead the series versus WAC teams 57-22 and versus Hawaii 4-3.

It's certainly a make or break game for the Beavs, but win or lose, it will be good to have college football back in the Beaver state.