Oregon State-UCLA: Beavers Hope Rose Bowl Visit Is First of Two This Year

On a cold and wet day after Halloween, Oregon State escaped Reser Stadium with a 27-25 victory over the Dennis Erickson-led Arizona State Sun Devils. 

The win moved OSU to 4-1 (5-3) in conference, still tied with USC and Cal for first, and one step closer to dreams of roses and a New Year's celebration under sunny Southern California skies.

After leaving Oregon State for greener ($$) pastures in 2002, Erickson returned to Reser Stadium with a desperate and determined Sun Devil squad. 

While the Devils fought hard, the loss is ASU's sixth in a row and now forces the Sun Devils to win out to even make a low-tier bowl game.

OSU took another step in the right direction, but it wasn't without difficulty.

Justin Kahut booted a 41-yard field goal to push the Beaver lead to eight with 5:05 left.

After a missed field goal by Kahut, Rudy and Co. marched 72 yards in the waining minutes, scoring a touchdown to move within a two-point conversion of tying the game.

Oregon State's DE Victor Butler intercepted the two point conversion attempt thrown by Rudy Carpenter with 21 seconds left, and the Beavs later recovered the onside kick to secure their seventh straight home victory.

Strangely enough, Week 11 has the Beavers traveling to UCLA, the team that handed them their last loss at home, 40-14.

While UCLA and OSU seem to be headed in opposite directions, Mike Riley has had an awful time against the powder blue and gold.

Riley has never beaten the Bruins. He is 0-5 as OSU's Head Coach and 0-4 as USC's offensive coordinator (1993-96).

His 0-9 mark is by far the worst record against any Pac-10 opponent for the Beaver Boss.

With the spotty past and OSU's troubles on the road this season, fans may have a heightened sense of concern for the trip to LA.

But for now, those who bleed black and orange are optimistic and smelling roses and a potential Pac-10 championship. 

It would be their first since being Co-Champs in 2000 (Oregon/Washington).

Speculation surrounding the injury to QB Lyle Moevao's throwing shoulder were put to rest after an MRI showed nothing "serious."

OSUBeavers.com quoted Riley in regards to the Moevao injury:

“We got good news on Lyle (Moevao). He has a strained muscle in his shoulder. That appears to be the extent of it, according to the MRI..."

He continued, "...Lyle had good mobility in his shoulder when we saw him yesterday afternoon. He was showing us everything that he could do. That was good to see. ”

Stepping in for the injured Moevao, Sean Canfield regained the trust of many of his critics after his 19-for-28, 218-yard, two-TD performance.

Canfield recovered well after missing Jacquizz Rodgers badly on what turned into ASU's only touchdown.  Troy Nolan returned the Canfield miscue 41 yards to put the Devils up 13-7 early in the third.

Sean showed fire and poise in his first serious test since undergoing shoulder surgery.  The junior stood tall in the pocket and delivered on-target lasers to open receivers, consistently moving the offense in position to score.

Oregon State needs one more victory to become bowl eligible, and they hope to get it this weekend against a hurting Bruin team.

Recent news out of LA is that three reserve offensive linemen have been suspended for the game, citing violations of the Athletic Department's drug use policy.

The already-thin offensive line has given up 25 sacks on the season (3.1 per game) and could be in trouble when OSU DEs Slade Norris and Victor Butler are unleashed.

Oregon State has given up only nine sacks all year.

Butler and Norris have combined for 11 sacks and 22 tackles for loss, totaling 226 total yards lost. 

The speed of the two rush ends has thrown off timing all season long for opposing offenses.  If the sack isn't made, often the play is disrupted and incompletions are the result.

Pressure will prove to be the deciding factor in whether or not OSU remains on course and in the hunt for Pac-10 supremacy.

UCLA signal caller Kevin Craft has been inconsistent all year, throwing for a respectable 1,724 yards but only seven touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He will need time if UCLA's offense wants to move the ball.

Oregon State has hopped on the Rodgers Brothers' train this entire season.  1,841 of the total 3,404 yards gained have been by the legs of the Brothers Rodgers (54 percent).

OSU's offense has remained balanced, and no matter which QB is under center to start the game, Coach Riley knows he can get the job done.

OSU has rushed 303 times for 1,325 yards and passed 272 times for 2,079 yards. The balanced attack forces defenses to stay home for the threat of the run, which makes OSU's play-action game so potent and dangerous.

Whether it be James or Jacquizz Rodgers, Sammie Stroughter, or Shane Morales, the Beavers have the offensive firepower to play with any team in the conference. 

However, iffy special teams play and turnovers can easily spoil any team's hopes for victory, and OSU has had its share of both.

While the road ahead remains arduous, OSU continues to maintain their "one game at a time" mentality. 

The regular season trip to the Rose Bowl could provide a little foreshadowing for the Beaver team who so desperately wants to perform and be given the chance to call themselves Rose Bowl Champions.

If the last Beaver victory taught us anything, it was that OSU can win the close must-win games they need to piece together a Rose Bowl worthy season.

Prediction: Oregon State harasses Kevin Craft and wins the turnover battle.  Jacquizz runs the defense in circles en route to his sixth 100-yard game of the season, and OSU wins its fifth straight and sixth of their last seven. The top 25 becomes a serious topic for the 6-3 (5-1) Beavers.

OSU 37, UCLA 21