By Cliff Kirkpatrick
For the Democrat-Herald | Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:00 am
WHO'S HOT
Shane Morales
The senior slot back had a career game. He caught 13 passes for 151 yards and a TD. He was the big-play receiver, and the go-to guy.
WHAT'S NOT
Run defense
Stanford piled up 210 yards on the ground. There were long runs and medium chunks. The defensive line had an inconsistent night and there were the usual early-season missed tackles.
TURNING POINT
The safety
QB Lyle Moevao threw a lateral behind RB Ryan McCants and the ball scooted out the side of end zone with 3:07 left in the third quarter. It gave Stanford the lead and momentum.
KEY STAT
2 yards
That's how far WR Darrell Catchings was away from the end zone when he fumbled the ball out of the end zone with 47 seconds left in the game. The Beavers were on the verge of possibly tying the game to send it into overtime.
INJURY REPORT
OG Adam Speer (cramps) missed most of the third quarter.
OT Andy Levitre (cramps) left the game with 3:31 left in the third quarter but came back in the fourth.
TRENDS
The Beavers didn't force any turnovers against Stanford, which is how they win games. Heading into the season they had forced 203 since 2001. Only five other teams have done better: USC (237), Virginia Tech (214), Washington State (209), Oklahoma (208) and West Virginia (208).
SAFETY REPORT
Al Afalava sat out the game because of a suspension from an off-the-field incident. Suaesi Tuimaunei started in his place and played well with five tackles. Austin Hall was good in relief. The other starter, Greg Laybourn, was second on the team in tackles with seven.
THE SERIES
OSU has dominated the Cardinal of late, but this loss snapped a two-game winning streak. The Beavers have won six of the last eight games and eight in the last 13. Stanford leads the overall series 48-24-3.
PAC-10 OPENERS
The Beavers lost their fifth straight Pac-10 opener. The last win was over Arizona State in 2003, Riley's first season of his second tenure.
NEW NAME
Senior DE Victor Butler wore the name Strong-Butler on the back of his jersey. Strong is his father's name, and he did that as a surprise for him.
- Cliff Kirkpatrick