Focusing one game at a time

By: Terry Horstman

Posted: 11/18/08

It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in my living room watching the Beaver football team's painful fourth quarter collapse against Utah to make our overall record 2-3. Even after that loss the discussion amongst myself and my roommates was, "Well, we could still win out and make it to the … " (I don't want to call it by name but what ended that sentence was a certain bowl game in Southern California named after a flower).

I don't know if we were saying that to make ourselves feel better or if we actually truly believed it, but regardless of what we thought, the Beavers are about to embark on one of the more exciting two-week stretches in recent memory. With just two more wins, the Beavers will be somewhere they haven't been in quite some time, and like I stated earlier, I don't want to be the one to put a jinx on this by looking ahead or being too sure of myself, so let's take a look at the obstacles remaining in the Beavers' magical 2008 run.

If anyone tuned into the Arizona vs. Oregon game you not only got a look at the most hideous uniforms ever donned by man but also at Oregon State's final two opponents: the Wildcats of Arizona and the archrival Ducks from the University of Oregon. It's safe to say this game was anything but pretty.

In a sloppy shootout, these two teams combined for 100 points and over 1,000 yards, with the Ducks holding off a late Arizona rally to come away with the 55-45 victory. With a box score like that, you don't need me to tell you that neither of these teams poses much of a threat defensively - Arizona gave up four touchdowns to Wazzu. OSU has gone up against much tougher defenses than either of these teams all year, and with Lyle Moevao getting back into the thick of the things, I have no doubt that he, along with Sammie Stroughter and the Rodgers brothers, will do their thing. However, if we are going to win these two games, the Beaver defense is going to have to play some of its best football of the season.

First up for the Beavers is a trip down to Tucson to face Willie Tuitama and the pass-happy Arizona offense. Tuitama has over 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season, leading Arizona to a 6-4 record and their first likely bowl season since 1998. Mike Stoops appears to have this team turned around, and with only two games to go, each win improves their bowl standing. The Wildcats have plenty to play for this weekend - they won't go down quietly.

Tuitama has a rifle for an arm and loves throwing the deep ball, which until last week was the weak point of our defense. If senior corners Brandon Hughes and Keenan Lewis, along with safeties Greg Laybourn and Al Afalava, play anything like they did against Kevin Riley and Cal, then the Beaver defense should give Tuitama fits. I think our pass rush matches up with the Arizona offensive line fairly well, so it all falls on our secondary to shut down the aerial assault that is the Arizona Wildcat offense.

Next up after the feisty Wildcats is the match versus Oregon - the seventh oldest rivalry in the nation and the 112th rendition of the Civil War. Every year this game is nearly impossible to predict; you really never know what's going to happen. The game is in Corvallis and the Beavers are 5-0 on their home turf this season, so the early advantage would go to the Beavers. However, the Ducks have an extra week to prepare with the bye and it appears the Ducks already have revenge on their minds as Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson went public saying, "Black and orange don't even look right."

Pending the result of this week's game in Tucson, this could be the most intense game ever played at Reser Stadium as "you know what" could be on the line. However, I want Coach Mike Riley to keep his boys focused and go undefeated at home in the regular season finale of 2008.

The Oregon offense specializes in running the ball. Conversely, the Oregon State defense specializes in stopping it, and if history has taught us anything, it's that a great defense beats a great offense. Johnson and LeGarrette Blount are both fantastic running backs for Oregon, but the only rush defense of OSU's caliber Oregon has faced all year was USC, a game in which Blount carried the ball nine times for zero yards and Johnson managed just 45 on 13 attempts.

If the Beavers can hold the Ducks to fewer than 100 yards rushing it should be an orange and black victory. However, if Oregon has success with their running game, then it's going to be one of the toughest games of the year.

Let's slow down a minute and take a step back. Even before these next two games are played, Beaver football has had a tremendous run this year and deserves all the credit in the world for playing great football, even with their backs against the wall - like we've come to expect from any team coached by Mike Riley. This brings me right back to what I said earlier: we can't get our hopes up or get ahead of ourselves. We can't look at the next step until we've climbed the one right in front of us.

Still, there's no way I'm ruling out the possibility of a winter vacation trip to a nice little spot in California that starts with a "P" and ends with "asadena."

Terry Horstman, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com