[size=+1]#19 Oregon State (4-1) at #25 Cal (4-1)[/size]
Berkeley, CA - The Cal faithful really showed up strong for this important conference game that surprisingly was only broadcasted regionally on FSN. It would be the Beavers' chance to get back on track after a loss to undefeated UCLA. For Cal, it would be an opportunity to prove to the nation that they are for real after losing to Oregon a couple weeks ago. Now that the Ducks had lost to Washington State just hours earlier, that loss hurts the Golden Bears.
Cal came out looking pretty good offensively, but OSU DT Mark Crum was able to bring the drive to an end with a sack on third down to force a punt. But OSU QB Phil Rogers' first career start did not get off to a very good start as the Beavers went three and out. The Golden Bears would get in position to attempt a 52-yard field goal on their next possession but the attempt was not even close. Finally, on a third-and-short for the Beavers, Rogers scrambled to the outside on an option. Just as he was about to be hit, he pitched the ball to backup HB Tim Taylor who made an excellent play to snag the ball that was behind him. Then Taylor turned on the jets toward the sideline and took it to the house for a 43-yard touchdown to put Oregon State on top
7-0.
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OSU HB Tim Taylor scores a 43-yard touchdown on a rare option play for the Beavers.[/size]<object width="425" height="355">
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<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/4896487" target="_top">EA SPORTS World: NCAA Football 09 Video</a></div>
Cal would go three and out on the ensuing possession. Then OSU QB Phil Rogers would roll out and throw deep to WR Brian Herring on a long crossing pattern in tight coverage. Herring somehow was able to come down with it for a 37-yard gain to bring the first quarter to an end. However, Oregon State could only get a field goal opportunity out of the big play through the air. But OSU kicker Reggie Smith kicked the 36-yard attempt wide right.
The Bears would respond with a very methodical drive, including a fourth down conversion in the red zone. Finally, Cal HB Jon Nelson was able to fight his way across the goal line for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game
7-7.
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Cal HB Jon Nelson with a 3-yard touchdown run.[/size]
The Beavers countered back though with probably one of the best looking drives all season. It would be capped off when HB Roy Nolen spun through a hole, broke a tackle, and scored on an 8-yard scamper to put Oregon State back in front
14-7.
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OSU HB Roy Nolen with an 8-yard touchdown scamper.[/size]
However, after a facemask against OSU on the kick return and a pass interference against OSU SS Courtney Smith, Cal found itself at the OSU 40-yard line and quickly the Golden Bears were inside the red zone. Where QB Sam Russell rolled out and found a wide open HB Jon Nelson in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game back up
14-14.
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Cal QB Sam Russell rolls out and finds HB Jon Nelson for a 3-yard touchdown.[/size]
Now the Cal faithful were really into the game and the noise seemed to be affecting OSU QB Phil Rogers. It may have been the reason that Rogers tried to throw to TE Adam Banks in the flat, but the ball was thrown behind him. Allowing Cal CB David Booth to make the interception. But the OSU defense stepped it up and forced Cal to punt. The Beavers would have the ball back with 1:19 left in the first half. But after a deep attempt to WR Brian Herring which was broken up, the fist half came to an end all tie up
14-14.
To start the second half, on third down OSU QB Phil Rogers threw over the middle to WR Brian Herring who made the catch but was absolutely lit up. Herring would leave the game with a PCL strain but would make his way back on the field by the fourth quarter. To make matters worse, after the chain gang came out to measure, the Beavers were short of the first down and had to punt. But Cal could not do any better as they had to punt after their own three and out. Oregon State would get in position to take the lead with a 55-yard field goal attempt but kicker Reggie Smith just came up short off the cross bar. But then Cal QB Sam Russell made his first mistake of the game as OSU CB Matt McDaniel picked him off and then dodged a tackle on his way for a pick-six to give Oregon State the lead
21-14.
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OSU CB Matt McDaniel dodges a tackle to return the interception for a touchdown.[/size]
The momentum was now fully in the hands of the Beavers and Cal would be forced to punt again. It looked like the Beavers were really hitting their stride now as HB Roy Nolen broke loose for a 33-yard gain. Next, QB Phil Rogers threw to HB Tim Taylor in the flat for another 33-yard gain to put the Beavers in the red zone. It was not looking good for the Bears until disaster struck for the the Beavers. Rogers made a terrible mistake, throwing to WR Alex Whitehead when he had no business doing so. Whitehead was blanketed by coverage. The ball was deflected in the air where Cal CB Mark Stewart came down with the interception. Then Stewart was off to the races. Only QB Phil Rogers was there to try to make a tackle but Stewart made a nice spin move to dodge the tackle and took it all the way back for a timely pick-six. Memorial Stadium ignited back to life as the Bears had just tie the game,
21-21 after it looked like they would be down by 14 points just a few seconds earlier.
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Cal CB Mark Steward has no trouble getting by OSU QB Phil Rogers for a timely pick-six.[/size]
So after the costly pick-six thrown by Rogers, the Beavers looked like a team that was destined to lose. That was until OSU CB John Biggers on the ensuing kickoff just exploded through a gap and was gone for an 84-yard touchdown to put Oregon State back on top
28-21 and silencing Memorial Stadium just before the third quarter ended.
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OSU CB John Biggers explodes for an 84-yard kick return.[/size]
It was not looking good for Cal now and QB Sam Russell would make matters worse when he badly overthrew a deep ball that OSU SS Courtney Smith easily picked off. Then OSU put a well executed drive together that would get the Beavers back in the red zone. Where QB Phil Rogers, unable to find anybody open decided to scramble and was able to bull his way across the goal line on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it
35-21 OSU.
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OSU QB Phil Rogers bulls his way in for a 7-yard touchdown.[/size]
The touchdown run by Rogers seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back as OSU CB John Biggers would get an interception off of a deflection which would set up a 5-yard touchdown scamper for HB Roy Nolen to put this one away with a
42-21 win. The Beavers will travel to Pullman next week to take on the surprising Washington State Cougars. The Cougs are coming off a shutout win over the Ducks in Autzen after previously upsetting Arizona State so the Beavers better be on alert.
Oregon State 42
QB Phil Rogers: 16-22, 193 yds, 2 int, rush td
HB Roy Nolen: 24 car, 118 yds, 2 td
WR Brian Herring: 4 rec, 68 yds
CB Matt McDaniel: 8 tkl, tfl, int, td
Cal 21
QB Sam Russell: 18-31, 185 yds, td, 4 int
HB Jon Nelson: 21 car, 82 yds, td, 6 rec, 48 yds, rec td
SS Oscar Higgins: 11 tkl