BFS Current Story

Beavers Travel to Wazzu With Hopes of Win #7

November 16, 2007

Hello Beaver Fans,

Its a great day to be a beaver. When the Ducks lose I feel much better about my day. But that is not why you are reading this article, for more on that topic, read the blog.

The Beavers make that wonderful journey to Pullman Washington today to get ready for their upcoming game with Washington State University Cougars.

For people who claim that Corvallis is off the beaten track they have never been to Pullman Washington. It is one of those towns that could be on a postcard (from the Moon!). It is a beautiful little town in the rolling hills (called the Paloose) of South Eastern Washington. It looks like the type of small town that you dream of living in. Beautiful surroundings, set in this little valley surrounded on all sides by miles and miles of wheat fields. Almost has the feeling of being in Kansas or Nebraska.

But it is a town that you literally cannot get to from here. Go to Google maps and look, its 75 miles south of Spokane Washingon, which is the only town that has a direct road leading to it. From Portland, you have to take I84 to I82 to hwy 395 to hwy 26 to hwy 195 to hwy 270 to get to Pullman. In a straight line it would be a 4 hour drive but with the roads it is a 6 hour drive.

In Pullman, once you get there, you never know what kind of weather you will find. It could be 20 degrees with 6 inches of snow or 98 degrees and so humid you have to use solvent to remove your t-shirt.

To top that off, the Cougar students are about as roudy a group as any in college football. The last game I attended in Pullman I was walking to the fieldhouse for some pregame beverages with my wife (a cougar), my niece (a cougar) and her husband (also a cougar) and was carefully directed by them to walk by the football stadium to get there. What they did not tell me was we had to walk right by the students lined up to get into the stadium. It was the longest 60 yards I ever walked as just about every student in line harassed and booed me as I went by. Frankly it was fun once I stopped fearing for my life. Washington State should be proud of the loyalty of their fans and how loud that little stadium can get during home games. It is not an easy place to play and many top ranked teams have come into Pullman just hoping to survive the day.

Of all the things that I can say about Saturdays game at WSU, those two factors, the place and the fans, are the most critical thing the Beaver players are going to have to deal with to get a win in Pullman. It been 8 years since the Beavers last won in Pullman and have lost the last two meeting in Martin Stadium.

BY THE NUMBERS

Key
STATISTIC
OSU
WAZZU
Advantage
.
 Records
6-4(4-3)
4-6(2-5)
OSU
.
 Scoring Offense
25.1
24.9
TIE
.
 Scoring Defense
23.2
30.2
OSU
.
 Passing Offense
199.1
312.3
WSU
.
 Passing Defense
239.9
265.0
OSU
.
 Kickoff Returns
20.5
19.5
OSU
.
 Punting
31.0
33.9
WSU
X
 Turnover Margin
-5
+3
WSU
X
 Rushing Offense
156.7
119.8
OSU
X
 Rushing Defense
62.1
150.8
OSU
.
 Total Offense

355.8
432.1
WSU
.
 Total Defense
302.0
415.8
OSU
.
 Punt Return Average
6.2
7.8
WSU
.
 Pass Efficiency
102.0
130.0
WSU
x
 Pass Defense Efficiency
121.8
138.7
OSU
x
 First Downs
188
239
WSU
.
 Opponent First Downs
160
231
OSU
X
 Sacks
39
24
OSU
.
 Penalties
55.8
53.5
WSU
X
 Red Zone Offense
78.6
76.7
OSU
X
 Red Zone Defense
76.9
87.5
OSU
X
 3rd Down Conversions
33.5
40.5
WSU
X
 3rd Down Defense
28.8
52.6
OSU
X
 Sacks Allowed
29
17
WSU
.
 Field Goals
17/21
13/19
OSU
.
 Time of Possession
31.52
27.34
OSU
.
 Home Field Advantage
VISITOR
HOME
WSU
.
 Totals
15 wins
11 wins
OSU

 

In looking at the numbers that these two teams are pretty well matched. The Cougars bring in a big passing attack that throws for over 300 yards per game and senior QB Alex Brink has broken many if not all WSU passing records. The Cougars also feature a running game that has been revived the last couple of weeks with a couple of quality backs in Christopher Ivory and Kevin McCall.

The Beavers first test will be stopping Alex Brink and the Cougar passing game while stopping the potential running game. The Cougars have put together a couple of impressive games this season and have shown sparks of the type of offensive power that was expected at the start of the season.

Key for the Beavers defense will be getting pressure on Brink. The Cougars have given Brink good protection only allowed 17 sacks this season. If they can put pressure on Brink and force him to get rid of the ball before he is ready then the Beavers can get those turnovers that are key to winning on the road.

The Beavers offense has to show up and have a good game. The offense or lack there of, has been the problem with the Beavers all season. It has been the reason for three of the 4 losses so far. The Cougars like to play a quick strike offense so if the Beavers can come out and control the tempo of the game with ball control drives of short passes and a solid running game that ends in points that will keep the Cougar offense off the field and put pressure on them to score and may force poor choices.

Lyle Moevao will be getting his second start of the season. He started last week in that crazy game vs Washington and performed ok but not great. He had a solid first half but turned the ball over twice in the third quarter to make the game closer. Moevao will have to make smart decisions and take care of the ball.

As with many games this late in the season, it is senior day in Pullman and the Cougar players will be fired up to get a home victory for their seniors and their coach who is on the hot seat. You only have to look at last night Duck vs Arizona game to see how senior night can fire up a team to perform above expectations.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In my opinion this is another must win for the Beavers to secure their place in the conference standings and give them an outside chance at finishing third in the conference for the second year in a row. A win gets them ot 7-4 with only the Civil War remaining. With the Ducks possibly losing Dennis Dixon for the season that game is looking more winable then before.

So the Beavers need to go into Pullman and put together another performance like at Cal a few weeks ago. They have to run the ball well and make good passes and smart decisions. Take advantage of turnovers. The Beaver defense needs to keep playing the way they have all season. The defense will be missing a couple key players in the first half Saturday. Payton and Hughes must sit out the first half after being ejected in the Washington game.

I feel that the Beavers can win this game and that the offense will finally come around and have a good game.

FINAL SCORE

BEAVERS 27
WASHINGTON STATE 17

GO BEAVERS!

BFS
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