2002 Football OSU vs Arizona

Hello Beaver Fans,

Well the Beavers came to play on Saturday on rolled over the Wildcats of Arizona. Aside from the game, the most interesting thing I heard on Saturday came from my 11 year old daughter. Just after Benny Beaver walked by our section at the game, the Arizona Mascot followed behind him. My daughter looked at him with a look a puzzlement on her face. She then looked at me and asked "Dad, What is that???" I told her "That is the Arizona mascot. I don't know what his name is". To that my daughter said "He looks stupid and really whimpy". I had to agree with her.

The Arizona football team must have been taking a page from their mascot handbook on Saturday because Arizona's football team looked pretty whimpy as well. The Beavers defense dominated from the first Arizona possession and if Dennis Weathersby could have caught the wide open interception on Arizona's third play of the game, the score could have been much worse then the 38-3 final. As it was the Beaver defense shut down Arizona holding them to -23 yards rushing for the game. One yard short of breaking the team record of -24 yards set against Oregon in 1966. The Defense had 6 sacks and the Arizona QB's were -62 yards rushing for the game. Arizona did move the ball somewhat through the air with 116 yards passing but the Beavers held Arizona to only 93 yards total offense as Arizona could only move the ball through the air.

For the Beavers, Steven Jackson ran for 134 yards on 27 carries and Derek Anderson had a decent game going 12 for 28 for 239 yards and 1 TD. Anderson also ran for one TD. The Beavers offense was moving well in the first half but once again struggled in the third quarter as they wasted many opportunities to score in Arizona territory. Once again penalties were a problem as the Beavers had 13 for 125 yards. During one possession the Beavers were inside the Arizona 20 and then had several penalties in a row and were faced with a first down and 40 to go. Stupid mistakes were the theme in the second half for the Beavers. They need to get this cleaned up if they are going to win on the road. It is these kind of mistakes that will kill a team on the road.

Current PAC-10 Standings
Team
Pac 10
Overall
Washington State
5-0
8-1
USC
4-1
6-2
Arizona State
4-1
7-3
Oregon
3-2
7-2
UCLA
3-2
6-3
Oregon State
2-3
6-3
California
2-3
5-4
Washington
1-4
4-5
Stanford
1-4
2-6
Arizona
0-5
3-6

POST GAME BY THE NUMBERS
 

CATEGORY
BEAVERS
ARIZONA
ADVANTAGE
Passing
264 yards
116 yards
OSU
Passing Att/Comp/int
14-31-0
15-33-0
ARI
Rushing
193 yards
-23 yards
OSU
Rushing Att/Ave.
48/4.02 ypc
25/-.92 ypc
OSU
Postitive Rushing Yards
200 yards
40yards
OSU
Negitive Rushing Yards
-7 yards
-63 yards
OSU
Total Off.
457 yards
93 yards
OSU
Total Plays/Yards per play
79/5.78 ypp
58/1.60 ypp
OSU
Penalties
13-125 yards
10-72 yards
ARI
Punts/Ave.
5/38.4
12/35.8
OSU
Turnovers
0
2
OSU
Time of Pos.
31:45
28:15
OSU
First Downs
20
12
OSU
3rd Down Conversions
7/17
2/15
OSU
Sacks
6
0
OSU
Final Score
38
3
OSU

NOW WHAT?

With the win the Beavers have moved into a tie for 6th in conference with CAL at 2-3. With CAL having to travel to ASU next week, the Beavers have a chance to move into sole possession of 6th with a win over the Huskies in Seattle. The Huskies lost to UCLA on Saturday and are in turmoil losing 4 of their last 5. If the Beavers can win in Seattle and the Ducks lose to Washington State (my wife is a cougar a loving every minute of it), the Beavers can moved into a tie for 5th with the Ducks. UCLA goes to Arizona next week and will most likely win. So if that happens the Beavers will be in good shape for a bowl with two games left but the work is in no way over. They need to win at Stanford as well to lock in a bowl game I believe. The Ducks still have to go to WSU and Washington and then us. UCLA has ARIZONA, USC AND WSU left. CAL still has ASU, ARIZONA and STANFORD.

So the Beavers need to keep winning to make a bowl game. But it is looking better.

Lets see lots of Orange in Seattle next week and send those Huskies home with their tails between their legs.

GO BEAVERS!

BFS