[size=+1]Cal (3-1) at #10 Oregon State (3-0)[/size]
Corvallis, OR - Oregon State's early patsy schedule is finally over and in comes the California Golden Bears who's only loss came against USC. Cal boasts one of the best QBs in the conference in Sam Russell. If the Golden Bears wanted to have any chance at winning in hostile Reser Stadium for the Beavers' home opener, Russell would have to play well.
Unfortunately, Russell could not have gotten off to a worse start as he threw an ill-advised pass into double coverage where OSU FS Scott Vinson came up with an easy interception, igniting an already excited crowd. The Beavers took advantage of the good field position when HB Tim Taylor scored from one yard out to put Oregon State on top
7-0.
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An interception by OSU FS Scott Vinson sets up a 1-yard touchdown run by HB Tim Taylor.[/size]
Cal would look no better, going three and out on their next possession but at least they did not turn over the ball. The Beavers looked like they were about to score again as they quickly moved into the red zone, but QB Justin Rust was picked off by Cal FS Byron Smith. Then the Golden Bears suddenly got in rhythm and marched the length of the field where QB Sam Russell connected with WR Curtis Justice in the corner of the end zone on a 12-yard touchdown reception to tie the game
7-7.
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Cal WR Curtis Justice with a 12-yard touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone.[/size]
The tide seemed to be turning as now the Beavers struggled on offense with their own three-and-out. As the 2nd quarter got underway, Cal had a good looking drive going until Russell was intercepted by OSU CB Deon Weatherford who took it all the way back for a pick-six, regaining the lead for Oregon State
14-7.
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OSU CB Deon Weatherford with a pick-six.[/size]
Cal QB Sam Russell would continue to struggle as we would throw a horrendous pass that was picked off by OSU SS Courtney Smith. But then OSU QB Justin Rust was picked off by Cal CB David Booth who returned it all the way for a pick-six of his own to tie the game back up
14-14.
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Cal CB David Booth with a pick-six.[/size]
Finally, the game would calm down as Oregon State was forced to punt when their drive stalled because of a sack and a holding call. Another penalty would be called on the Beavers on the ensuing punt return for Cal. A facemask was called, bring the Golden Bears deep inside OSU territory. Then backup Cal HB Travis Taylor, a guy the Beavers heavily recruited was able to get to the outside for a 23-yard gain, setting up the Bears at the OSU 5-yard line. On the next play, QB Sam Russell connected with TE Brandon Jame in the flat who got in for a 5-yard touchdown, giving Cal its first lead of the game
21-14.
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Cal QB Sam Russell connects with TE Brandon James on a 5-yard touchdown.[/size]
The Beavers would be able to get a little something going on offense on the ensuing possession primarily on the ground with HB Tim Taylor, but the drive would stall, setting up a 46-yard field goal to make it
21-17 Cal. On Cal's next possession, the OSU defense would hold Cal to a 52-yard field goal attempt that fell well short of the cross bar. In the closing seconds of the half, OSU QB Justin Rust threw up a prayer on the hail mary but it fell to the turf off of a Cal deflection.
The Beavers would get the ball first to start the 2nd half and right away, HB Tim Taylor would get to the outside behind superb blocking as the entire side of the Cal defensive line was pancaked. Then Taylor received excellent blocking support from WR Brian Horn, who obliterated his CB off the playing field. Taylor broke a tackle and was off to the races as Reser Stadium roareed. The Cal defense could not catch him as he took it to the house on an 81-yard touchdown scamper to put the Beavers back on top
24-21.
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OSU HB Tim Taylor with an 81-yard touchdown run.[/size]
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With the electrifying run by Taylor, the momentum was fully in the hands of the Beavers. Cal would have their next possession ended when OSU OLB Cole Alexander sacked Sam Russell on 3rd down. But OSU could not do much better as they were also forced to punt. The Golden Bear offense looked a lot better on their next possession though as Russell was able to lead them into the red zone. However, OSU OLB Carlos Matthews would deflect a 3rd down pass. Cal head coach Jeff Tedford would settle for the 24-yard field goal to tie the game
24-24.
Oregon State was in a dogfight and then QB Justin Rust was hurt as he released a pass late. He would miss the rest of the game with an abdominal strain so in came the red shirt freshman QB Ty Moore for his first real game experience besides the garbage time play as the 3rd quarter came to an end.
Moore was not up to the task at hand as he missed a wide open WR Bill Faaeteete running all alone over the middle of the field on 3rd down. The Beavers would be forced to settle for a 42-yard field goal which kicker Reggie Smith drilled through the uprights, giving Oregon State a
27-24 lead.
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OSU kicker Reggie Smith with a 42-yard field goal to give the Beavers the lead.[/size]
Cal was still in a position to pull of the upset, but the OSU defense came up big as they have all season, forcing a three-and-out. Then the Beavers put a drive together, and QB Ty Moore threw a laser to WR David Baker running a slant in tight coverage. The ball was right on the money and Baker scored on the 14-yard touchdown reception to put the Beavers ahead
34-24 with 3:46 remaining in the game.
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OSU QB Ty Moore throws a laser to WR David Baker for a 14-yard touchdown.[/size]
The touchdown gave the Beavers some breathing room but the Golden Bears were not done yet. QB Sam Russell was in a groove as he marched his team quickly into the red zone but the drive stalled and Cal was forced to kick a 31-yard field goal to cut the OSU lead to
34-27 with 1:52 left to go.
Now Cal just needed to be successful on the onside kick. The ball was kicked into the turf, bouncing high up in the air, but the Beavers came down with the ball on the onside kick. HB Tim Taylor would get the one 1st down that the Beavers would need to run the clock out and the Beavers escaped with a big conference win in their first competitive game of the season.
Cal 27
QB Sam Russell: 27-36, 255 yds, 2 td, 3 int
HB Matt Tate: 14 car, 22 yds
WR Zach Manigat: 12 rec, 115 yds
CB David Booth: 9 tkl, int, defl, td
Oregon State 34
QB Justin Rust: 16-25, 112 yds, 2 int
QB Ty Moore: 6-9, 49 yds, td
HB Tim Taylor: 22 car, 195 yds, 2 td, 3 rec, 20 yds
WR David Baker: 4 rec, 38 yds, td
CB Deon Weatherford: 7 tkl, 2 tfl, int, td