Oregon State Ready For Pac-10 Opener Versus No. 20 Cal

Beavers, Golden Bears Pre-Game Notes.

Salem-News.com Sports

CORVALLIS - Beaver Football Notes: California (3-1, 1-0) at Oregon St. (2-1, 0-0). Kickoff happens at 1:05 PM in Corvallis at Reser Stadium. Series: Cal 32-26

THEME: Oregon State opens Pac-10 Conference play hosting the No. 20 California Golden Bears at Reser Stadium.

The Beavers, who are in the midst of playing their second of three consecutive games at home, are the last team in the Pac-10 to play a conference game. The Bears have won three straight, all at home, and in the process averaged 44.3 points per game.

PAC-10 OPENERS: The opening game of the Pac-10 Conference slate has not been particularly good for Oregon State of late. The Beavers have won just one of the last five openers - Sept. 27th, 2003 vs. Arizona State (45-17).

The last three conference openers have been against the Sun Devils, losing last season at home to No. 18 ASU (42-24) and in 2004 at No. 22 ASU (27-14). This is the fi rst time the Beavers have opened Pac-10 action against Cal since losing in triple-overtime 48-42 Sept. 28th, 1996 in Berkeley -- the longest game in OSU history.

THE SERIES: It’s been one of the oddest series’ in the Pac-10 with Cal leading overall 32-26. The programs have split the last two games, but before 2004 it was one of streaks. OSU went 5-0 from 1999-2003; Cal was 6-0 from 1991-98; OSU went 5-0 from 1984-89; and Cal was 6-0 from 1977-83. There were also streaks of OSU winning five straight between 1955-59 and 1939-46, and Cal had a six-game winning streak from 1948-54.

THE LAST TIME: Oregon State broke an eight-game losing streak to nationally ranked opponents with a 23-20 victory over California in Berkeley in an ABC regionally televised game. The loss snapped a 10-game home winning streak for the Bears.

Running back Yvenson Bernard rushed for a career-high 194 yards and two touchdowns, but it was his teammates linebacker Keith Ellison and punter Sam Paulescu who later earned Pac-10 Players of the Week honors. Ellison had nine tackles, including three-for-loss and two sacks -- he also had a fumble recovery. Paulescu averaged 49.9 yards per punt and had six downed inside the 20. OSU forced five turnovers in the game.

REMEMBER WHEN? On a dark dreary November 6, 1999 evening, Oregon State clinched its first winning regular season since 1970 with a 17-7 victory over California at Reser Stadium. One of the key plays of the game was linebacker Tevita Moala returning a fourth quarter fumble 24 yards to clinch the game. Tavita’s brother is current Beaver linebacker Eric Moala-Liava’a.

TWO OF THE BEST: Two of the best running backs in the nation will be on the field Saturday. Marshawn Lynch of California is second in the Pac-10 and 12th in the nation for yards per game at 112.3 and Yvenson Bernard of Oregon State is third in the conference and 13th nationally at 110.0. Lynch will mark the second nationally ranked back the Beavers have faced in their first four games; Boise State’s Ian Johnson is third in the country at 156.5 yards per game.

A LONG DAY FOR THE DEFENSES? Saturday’s game might be a long day for the defenses. Cal leads the Pac-10 and is 12th in the nation for scoring at 37.8 points per game while OSU is third in the league and tied for 16th in the country at 36.0. The Beavers have averaged 47 points per game through their first two home contests.

BEAR COACHES, FORMER BEAVERS; BEAVER COACHES, FORMER BEARS: Cal wide receiver coach Dan Ferrigno was on the staff at OSU from 1987-95 and during his tenure had the posts of running backs, defensive backs, linebackers and special teams. Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Jim Michalczik was at OSU from 1999-2001 in the roles of offensive line, tight ends and special teams. OSU head coach Mike Riley started his coaching career at Cal in 1975 as a graduate assistant (def.) and was part of the last Bear team to win the conference title.

QUARTERBACKS BEWARE: Two of the biggest enemies of quarterbacks in the nation will be patrolling the defensive backfields this weekend. OSU safety Sabby Piscitelli and Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes are tied for second in the nation for career interceptions by active players with 12. Hughes has five this season while Piscitelli has two. Hughes also has two touchdowns this year and Piscitelli one.

SPECIAL GUYS: Oregon State’s special teams continue to make strides over the last several seasons and two individuals have climbed to the top of the league in their respective categories.

Junior Sammie Stroughter is third in the nation for punt return yards per game at 22.9 and junior Coye Francies is 14th for kickoff return yards per game at 28.3. Overall, OSU is first in the conference for punt return average (19.3), third for kickoff return average (22.4) and fifth for kickoff coverage.

STARTERS ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Another sign of Oregon State’s developing special teams is the fact that fewer starters appear on the first team units. Minus the field goal/extra point team, the following offensive and defensive starters appear on these units -- Sabby Piscitelli (punt), Al Afalava (punt/kickoff), Joey LaRocque (punt/kickoff), Alan Darlin (punt), Derrick Doggett (punt/kickoff), Jeremy Perry (kickoff return) and Anthony Wheat-Brown (kickoff).

ON THE PLUS SIDE: Oregon State and California are two of the four teams in the Pac-10 on the plus side for turnover margin. The Beavers are second (13th in the nation) at plus-4 while Cal is third at plus-3. USC leads the league at plus-6 and UCLA is fourth at plus-2. OSU was last in the conference a year ago at minus-14.

SUPER SAMMIE: Beaver junior receiver and punt returner Sammie Stroughter has started the season with an impressive run. Stroughter leads the team for receiving yards per game (56.7) and is third in the nation for punt return yards per attempt at (22.9). He also is one of only 10 players in the nation with a punt return for a touchdown and is the only player with two this season.

YOU WERE MISSED: It’s been well documented that senior tight end Joe Newton was missed last season for a variety of reasons. Through three games this season Newton has three touchdown receptions. Last season the Beaver tight ends accounted for zero touchdowns.

FIRST QUARTER ONSLAUGHT: Oregon State has outscored its first two opponents 49-7 in the first quarter. In fact, the Beavers have scored 15 touchdowns this season, seven in the first quarter. Meanwhile, California has scored 42 first-stanza points.

TOTAL DEFENSE: Oregon State enters Saturday’s game second in the Pac-10 and 15th in the nation for total defense, allowing 239.3 yards per game. The D is coming off a 38-0 shut out of Idaho, marking the first time OSU had held an opponent scoreless since 1983. The defense will get tested the next two weeks against Cal (444.5 yds p/g) and Washington State (428.8).

MENTAL MISTAKES DOWN: Last season Oregon State allowed an average of over two first downs per game via the penalty. The season opponents are averaging just over one per game.

KEEPING THE DRIVE ALIVE: Oregon State’s ability to run the ball has enabled it to earn first downs on the ground. The Beavers ratio on first downs is nearly 1:1 (27 rush, 29 pass). Last year’s team had 153 first downs via the air to just 71 on the ground (2.2:1).

THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: Oregon State could stand to improve on its 37 percent (14-38) rate for third down conversions on offense, but its defense has been impressive allowing just five of 33 (15.2%) to be converted. UCLA leads the nation for third down defense at 14.7%, OSU is second.

QUARTERBACK PRESSURE: Oregon State enters this week’s game tied for 12th in the nation for quarterback sacks, averaging 3.7 per game. The Beavers have 11 overall, equating to a loss of 83 yards. William `Akau’ola Vea leads the team with two.

HAVE BALL, WILL PASS: Oregon State is one of only three programs over the last three years to finish in the top 10 in the nation for passing yards per game, joining Texas Tech and Hawaii (‘06 opp.). Over those three seasons the Beavers averaged 312 yards per game through the air and completed 828 of 1,525 (.543) attempts. Oregon State and Hawaii are also the only two programs over the three-year span with a receiver to finish in the top 10 nationally for yards per game.

NOT SINCE 1977: Oregon State entered the season returning all five starters on its offensive line for the first time since 1977. The line features Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate sophomore left guard Jeremy Perry, and Rimington Award candidate junior center Kyle DeVan. The Beaver offensive line has combined for 106 starts.

THEY LIKE RAIN: Oregon has a reputation for its rain, probably undeservedly so, but that hasn’t stopped some sunshine staters from making their way to Corvallis and making an impact. OSU’s starters, in addition to Oregon, include individuals from California, Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and Nevada. Cornerback Brandon Hughes, who may or may not start, throws a little confusion to it being from Illinois -- at least you don’t have to shovel rain.

LONG SEASON: For the first time ever the Oregon State University football program will play a 13-game regular season schedule. Within the schedule is 11 consecutive weeks with a game, marking the first time for a Beaver team since the 1989 club played 12 consecutive weeks (season ended at Hawaii).

TOUGH HOME SLATE: The 2006 season features possibly the program’s best ever home schedule. The Beavers five conference home games feature opponents that combined for a 41-19 record in 2005.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Seniors Matt Moore, Sabby Piscitelli, and Joe Newton, and junior Yvenson Bernard were selected team captains in June. The coaching staff also selects a game captain.

NON-CONFERENCE HOME STREAK: Oregon State has won 22 consecutive non-conference home games. Head coach Mike Riley is 13-0 in non-conference home contests.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Many Oregon State football student-athletes volunteer time to various charitable organizations, but safety Bryan Payton stands out. Payton has been nominated by the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis for the Benton County (Corvallis) “Best Communities Celebration and Volunteer Recognition.” The nomination recognizes those volunteers who have devoted time and effort in making Benton County one of the 100 Best Communities for children, youth, and families.

RILEY WITH THE LEAD: Oregon State is 26-5 when leading after three quarters under head coach Mike Riley, including 12-1 in the combined 2004, ‘05 and ‘06 seasons.

TOTAL RECLAMATION: It’s hard to imagine a college football coach entering a situation with a more daunting task than Mike Riley did in the winter of 1997. The Oregon State program had won three games over the previous two seasons and the former coaching staff ran the spread option offense.

Riley not only had to change the entire offensive philosophy, but also the entire attitude of the program. Riley immediately moved the program to a competitive stage in his first two years and laid the foundation for five bowl appearances in the last seven years.

LATE ADDITION: Sophomore receiver Chris Johnson enrolled at OSU during the summer. His bio is not included in the media guide. Johnson played one season at Grossmont CC in California where he caught 40 passes for 625 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played four seasons of high school football at Dillard in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He attended Norfolk State in Virginia as a true-freshman, but did not play.

BOCA RATON BOYS: Starting tailback Yvenson Bernard and strong safety Sabby Piscitelli are both from Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton, Fla. That’s 2,696 miles from Corvallis.

So how did both end up at OSU? OSU Associate Athletic Director Bob Clifford learned through his son of Piscitelli not having a scholarship offer. Clifford’s son played with Piscitelli and Bernard at Boca Raton and that is where the relationship developed. Clifford, a native of Florida, was cooking hot dogs for the school’s booster club at home games while working at Florida Atlantic University.

FRESHMEN ACTION: True-freshmen to have played to this point in the season include Keaton Kristick, Kyle Loomis, Micah Strickland, Howard Croom, and John Reese.

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