Riley, Beavers not yet smelling Roses

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PASADENA—Before the Oregon State football team can begin counting down to a long-awaited return to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day, the Beavers realize they have a few more mountains to climb.

They cleared a sizable barrier Saturday night against UCLA, ending a five-game losing streak against the Bruins with a convincing 34-6 victory at the Rose Bowl.

If the Beavers can win their final three games against California, Arizona and Oregon, they will make their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1964 season.

That's not a tool Oregon State Coach Mike Riley wants to use as motivation, however.

"I think you waste a lot of energy talking about something that is only down there if you earn it, and you've only earned it if you win the next game," Riley said. "We choose to talk about the next game because of that very reason."

In addition to losing his previous five games against UCLA as coach of Oregon State, Riley lost all four meetings to the Bruins while he was offensive coordinator at USC from 1993-96.

Again, he opted to keep that information out of his pre-game speech.

"The fact is, this team, in 2008, hadn't played UCLA," he said. "New season, new team, everything's new about it. Let's just approach it that way and try to get a win."

If there's something down the road to get excited about, Riley said, it's the attention Oregon State should receive from local recruits after defeating both USC and UCLA in the same season.

"There's going to be a lot of guys down here that are looking for other opportunities," he said. "A lot of them who want to go to UCLA or USC, which is great, but we have our niche and we want to expand it."

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OREGON STATE QUARTERBACK Sean Canfield made his first start since suffering a torn labrum just over a year ago in a 24-3 loss to USC at the Coliseum.

Following the injury, Lyle Moevao took over for Canfield and held the starting job until injuring his shoulder last week against Arizona State.

Canfield underthrew his first two deep passes, including one that was intercepted, and fumbled inside the UCLA 5-yard line in the second quarter, but settled in during the second half and finished 15 of 19 for 217 yards and a touchdown.

"We just settled down, started running what we run, got the run game going and then made some throws downfield," Canfield said.

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THE BEAVERS WERE without second-leading receiver Shane Morales, who injured his hip during a pre-game walk-through Friday. He took the field for the first few plays, but could not continue.

Riley said it's the first time one of his players has been hurt in the walk-through. Morales called it a freak accident. Riley said it wasn't so accidental.

"He won't admit this to you," Riley said. "but he was messing around."

James Rodgers and Sammie Stroughter more than picked up the slack. Rodgers finished with six catches for 115 yards and Stroughter had six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

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AFTER FORCING FOUR turnovers against the Bruins, Oregon State now has 17 takeaways in its last seven games. Even more impressive, the Beavers have scored 12 touchdowns off those turnovers.

They twice scored touchdowns following turnovers against UCLA, both in the fourth quarter. They had a golden opportunity to get into the end zone after recovering a fumble inside the UCLA 10-yard line midway through the second quarter, but Canfield fumbled on the next play.

It was just the third fumble the Beavers have lost this season.

Oregon State limited the Bruins to 2-for-14 on third-down conversions, and allowed the offense past midfield just once on UCLA's first nine possessions.

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OREGON STATE PUNTER Johnny Hekker was on shaky ground after several sub-par performances, but he was solid against the Bruins, punting the ball five times for a 48.8 average.

His punting was a big reason why UCLA's average starting field position on its first eight drives was its own 16-yard line.

After a 56-yard punt put the Bruins on their own 6 early in the third quarter, the Beavers forced UCLA to punt from its end zone and Stroughter returned it 18 yards to the Bruins' 21. Two plays later, Stroughter made a diving 18-yard touchdown reception in the end zone to give Oregon State a 10-3 lead.

"They had the edge going in the kicking game and I think we somewhat evened it out," Riley said. "If we can continue to elevate that part of the game then, that will be very good for the future of this team."

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