Oregon State vs. Cal Football 2009
Star Running Backs Will Match Talents in Pac-10 Battle
Nov 4, 2009
Oregon State's Rodgers and Cal's Best have been touted as Heisman Trophy candidates, and each can help his chances by outperforming the other in the 4 p.m. PST game at Berkeley, Calif.
But more importantly, their teams need victories to gain leverage for the postseason. Oregon State (5-3 overall, 3-2 Pac-10) can become bowl eligible with one more win. No. 23 Cal (6-2, 3-2) took care of that last week, although in very precarious fashion.
Coach Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears won 23-21 at Arizona State, pulling ahead on a Giorgio Tavecchio's field goal with 21 seconds remaining. The win was Cal's third in a row, and helped the Bears move up to No. 20 in the Bowl Championship Series standings.
Oregon State would have a four-game winning streak if it hadn't dropped a 42-36 decision at USC on Oct. 24. But coach Mike Riley's team is still on an impressive 3-1 run, which included a 26-19 triumph over UCLA last week.
Saturday's game, which will be telecast by Fox Sports Net, will be the 62nd meeting between the schools. Cal owns a 33-28 edge, but OSU has won two straight, eight of the last 10, and the last four games at Berkeley. Last year, the Beavers won 34-21 at Corvallis, Ore.
Best, Rodgers Tied for 2nd in Scoring
Best, a junior, has rushed for 11 TDs and caught four touchdown passes. Sophomore Rodgers also has 15 touchdowns – 14 running and one receiving. And he threw a TD pass vs. UCLA last weekend. The two are tied for second in the FBS with an average of 11.25 points per game.
While similar in effectiveness, they differ in style. Rodgers is just 5-foot-7, 190 pounds, but he's a deceptively strong runner who'll smash for yardage between the tackles.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Best is a shifty runner who's more likely to get caught in the backfield for losses. But he's also adept at creating something out of nothing.
Best has rushed 132 times for 838 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Rodgers has run 172 times for 922 yards on 5.4 yards per attempt. Both are good receivers. Rodgers has 49 catches for 371 yards, and Best hs made 21 receptions for 217 yards.
In last year's game, Best rushed 15 times for 116 yards, including a 65-yard TD. Rodgers rushed 27 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. Much of the spotlight was stolen by Rodgers' older brother James, who scored two TDs.
James Rodgers Is Multi-Purpose Threat for Beavers
James Rodgers rivals his brother in overall value to Oregon State. The junior receiver has 60 catches for 706 yards and five touchdowns, and he's run 34 times for 206 yards and a TD, and he's also the Beavers' most effective kick returner.
Despite being sacked 21 times, senior quarterback Sean Canfield is also enjoying a successful season He's connected on 68.9 percent of his passes for 2,039 yards and 11 TDs. In addition to the Rodgers brothers, Canfiield has a steady receiver in Damola Adeniji (34 receptions, 461 yards, 3 TDs).
The Beavers are averaging 29.4 points and a healthy 408.6 yards per game. And they've committed just five turnovers — four Canfield interceptions and one fumble. But Oregon State's defense has only forced eight.
OSU Tackle Paea Breaks Through vs. Bruins
Not only have the Beavers not forced many turnovers, they've only come up with eight sacks. But OSU recorded four vs. UCLA — including three by Stephen Paea.
A standout defensive tackle who is constantly double teamed, Paea had been held without a sack until last weekend. The junior has 23 tackles overall in 2009.
The team leader is linebacker Keaton Kristrick, who's made 63 stops — including 5.5 for losses. Safety Cameron Collins is second with 52 tackles and linebacker David Pa'aluhi has 49.
Safety Lance Mitchell (42 tackles, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups) and cornerback James Dockeri (1 interception, 8 pass breakups) are leaders in the secondary.
Oregon State is giving up 24.9 points and 380.1 yards per game. They've been especially vulnerable through the air, yielding 272.1 yards per game. That puts them at 116th in the 120-team FBS.
Cal Pass Defense Not So Great, Either
Just one spot above Oregon State in pass defense is Cal. The Golden Bears are giving up 268 yards per game through the air and are 115th in the FBS. Cal is surrendering 377.2 yards of total offense and 22.1 points a contest.
But the Bears are receiving steady production from linebacker Mike Mohammed, who's made a team-high 74 tackles and two interceptions. Cal also mounts a steady pass rush led by defensive ends Tyson Alualu and Cameron Jordan. Alualu has five sacks and Jordan has added 4.5.
The secondary features cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson (31 tackles, 1 interception, 6 pass breakups) and safety Brett Johnson (35 tackles). Mychal Kendricks is the team's second-leading tackler with 49, but lost his starting linebacker spot.
QB Riley Making Plays for Cal
Cal is scoring 33.6 points per game, and averaging 427.4 yards in total offense. The Golden Bears barely squeaked out a victory last week, but they did manage 408 yards against a very good Arizona State defense.
QB Kevin Riley, who's played solidly the past three games, is completing 55.5 percent of his passes for 1,805 yards and 13 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. The junior appears to have found a go-to receiver in Marvin Jones (22 catches, 366 yards, 5 TDs).
Running back Shane Vereen has performed superbly behind best, rushing for 377 yards and six touchdowns, and making 14 catches for 173 yards and two TDs.
