Jacquizz Rodgers Named PAC-10 Player of the Week

Fabulous Freshman Jacquizz Rodgers won the PAC-10 player of the week award for his 150 yard, 3 touchdown performance against Washington.  Currently, Rodgers is the leading freshman rusher in Division I football.

November 1, 2008: Oregon State 35, Washington 14

Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns as Oregon State (5-1, 2-1) kept Washington (0-7, 0-5) winless.

Oregon State jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on the strength of a 54 yard touchdown pass from Lyle Moevao to Sammie Stroughter and  3 yard run by Rodgers.  Washington threatened to make a game of it by scoring the next two touchdowns to tie the game at 14-14 by the third quarter.  But the Beavers dominated the rest of the way by going on a 21-0 run and keeping Washington out of the end zone.  The OSU defense intercepted Husky QB Jake Locker twice and forced a fumble to kill any chances of a Washington comeback.

Moevao was highly efficient in completing 17 of 24 passes for 259 yards.  Oregon State dominated the the total yardage stat 410-184 and had 22 first downs to 10.

Highlights:

Sammie Stroughter hauls in the long pass from Moevao

Jacquizz Rodgers picks up 23 of his 150 yards

James Rodgers gets a rushing touchdown

Christopher forces a fumble

Afalava’s work on the tip drill pays off

Lyle Moevao Named PAC-10 Player of the Week

Lyle Moevao completed 78 percent of his passes for 270 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions an easy win over Washington State.  This was Moevao’s first honor coming off his finest performance yet as a collegian.

Gerald Hughes, who was already named the NCAA Defensive Player of the Week, was also named the PAC-10 Defensive player of the week.

Gerald Hughes Honored as NCAA Defensive Player of the Week

Gerald Hughes moved out of Keenan Lewis’ shadow last week when he was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Week for the entire NCAA.  Hughes racked up 10 tackles, 2 interceptions, and forced a fumble, and was generally a terror to the Washington State offense.

Keenan Lewis, the reigning Thorpe winner, did manage to make some noise with a 95 yard fumble return in the first quarter that put Oregon State up 14-0.

October 25, 2008: Oregon State 48, Washington State 14

Lyle Moevao threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions as Oregon State (4-1, 1-1) downed Washington State (2-3, 0-2) in Corvallis.

The Cougars actually moved the ball well in the first half, but mistakes in the red zone killed their chances to make a game of it.  On their first possession, a missed field goal ended a solid drive.  When Moevao found tight end Gabe Miller for a touchdown on Oregon State’s first possession, Washington State moved all the way to the Beavers’ five yard line.  But Cameron Collins knocked the ball from Dwight Tardy as he was going in for a score, and Keenan Lewis returned the ball 95 yards for the touchdown.  On a third possession in the redzone, Brandon Hughes stripped Marcus Richmond of the ball at the 1, and Kevin Frahm returned it to the Oregon State 30, leading to a field goal.

A Hughes interception in the second quarter would lead to a 50 yard touchdown from Moevao to Sammie Stroughter, his first of the year and a 24-0 lead.  Although the Cougars would finally reach the end zone on their next possession, Moevao connected with James Rodgers on the first series of the 2nd half to put the game out of reach.

Highlights:

Keenan Lewis changes the game with this fumble return

Frahm recovers the fumble at the goal line

Hughes’ diving interception sets up the Beavers next score

Sammie Stroughter finds the end zone in spectacular fashion

Another Lineman Joins the Beavers

Despite being on hand as Oregon State lost to Cal, offesive line prospect Michael Beaton signed a letter of intent to play for the Beavers in 2009.  At 6-2, 284, Beaton has a strong chance to compete for playing time on the interior line in the future.

October 18, 2008: Cal 19, Oregon State 14

Oregon State (3-1, 0-1) suffered their first loss at Reser Stadium since 2006 by falling to Cal (4-2, 2-0).

Cal scored on their second play of the game when Jahvid Best took a pitch 73 yards for the score.  After freshman Cameron Collins intercepted Bears quarterback Beau Sweeney, Lyle Moevao scored from 9 yards out to tie the game at 7 all.  Cal added a field goal in the second quarter to lead at halftime 10-7.

Oregon State took their only lead of the game following a 13 play, 94 yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock, ending in Jacquizz Rodgers score from 1 yard.  Although Cal scored again on a field goal, the Beavers stopped the Bears on 4th down and seemingly had the game in hand with five minutes to go.  But a costly interception led to another field goal, and when Moevao was intercepted again, Cal added another 3 points to take a 19-14 lead with 2:17 remaning in the game.

Moevao did drive the Beavers to the Cal 8 yard line with 11 seconds to go.  But he was sacked on the first play and then threw three incompletions as time expired.  The loss snapped a 10 game home winning streak for Oregon State.

Highlights:

Cameron Collins with his first career INT.

Moevao ties the game at 7.

Frahm stops the Bears on 4th down.

Oregon State gets their only lead of the game courtesy of Jacquizz Rodgers.

Beavers Ink First Recruit

John Braun, a 6-6 240 pound guard from nearby Albany, OR is the first committ for the 2008 season.  After attending the Beavers thrilling 41-38 win over Hawai’i, Braun signed a letter of intent. Braun cited the success of the past two football seasons, the ability to develop athletes, and a safe campus atmosphere as three reasons he will be attending Oregon State next fall.

September 30, 2008: Oregon State 41, Hawai’i 38

A 20 yard field goal by Justin Kahut with no time remaining was the difference as Oregon State (3-0) escaped a major upset at the hands of Hawai’i (0-3).

Oregon State played from behind for most of the first half.  Hawai’i scored on their first two possessions and took a 14-7 lead going in the second quarter.  The Beavers tied the game on a deflected pass that was nearly intercepted by the Warriors but was instead tipped into the hands of James Rodgers.  But Hawai’i answered right back with two more touchdowns to an Oregon State field goal, and appeared headed for more until Keenan Lewis intercepted Tyler Graunke at midfield and took the ball to the Warrior 10.  From the 4, Jacquizz Rodgers scored with 23 seconds left in the half to cut the score to 28-24.

Disaster nearly struck Oregon State on their first possession of the second half when Dane Porlas intercepted Lyle Moevao and took the ball to the Beaver 15.  But the Oregon State defense stood tall in the second half and allowed just a field goal.  Oregon State tied the game on another Jacquizz Rodgers touchdown run and when Graunke was intercepted by Dennis Christopher, Oregon State took their first lead of the game when Kyle Brown caught a 38 yard pass from Moevao and stumbled into the end zone.

After Hawai’i tied the game at 38 all, the shootout turned into a defensive battle in the 4th quarter.  Three times Hawai’i crossed midfield, only to be stopped by the Oregon State defense.  With 2:18 left in the game, Moevao led the Beavers on a 10 play 61 yard drive that featured 5 passes and 5 runs, including a 14 yarder by Jacquizz Rodgers that put the ball on the 2 yard line.  From there, freshman kicker Kahut booted his first game winner as the clock expired and Oregon State escaped with the dramatic win.

Highlights:

James Rodgers is in the right place at the right time to score on the deflection.

Keenan Lewis puts the Beavers back in the game with this pick.

Kyle Brown puts Oregon State up 38-31.

Kahut knocks through the game winner.

September 23, 2008: Oregon State 41, Utah 13

The Beavers turned three interceptions into 21 points and defeated Utah 41-13 in front of 36,238 fans at Rice-McKenny stadium.

Down 7-3 in the second quarter, Lyle Moevao threw his first touchdown pass of the year, a 24 yarder to Kyle Brown.  On the next series, Isiah Cook intercepted Ute quarterback Bryan Johnson and returned it 30 yards for the score.  An interception by nickelback David Ross on Utah’s next possesion led to a Jacquizz Rodgers 4 yard touchdown run and a 24-7 halftime lead.

Dennis Christopher intercepted Johnson in the 3rd quarter, and the good field position set up a Moevao touchdown run to put the game out of reach.

Jacquizz Rodgers won his second straight player of the game award, rushing for 134 yards on 20 carries and 2 touchdowns.  As a team, Oregon State had 218 yards rushing in the game.

Highlights:

Moevao finds Brown in the endzone.

Cook takes the interception the distance.

Ross sets up another TD with this interception.

Moevao rumbles in for another score.