Cliff Kirkpatrick For the Democrat-Herald | Posted: Monday, October 13, 2008 10:00 pm
CORVALLIS - Staying focused remains the goal this week.
The Oregon State football team heads into the second half of the season against another Northwest rival, and the Beavers are heavy favorites again.
They travel to Seattle to take on Washington in a Pacific-10 Conference game Saturday afternoon. The Beavers are early 14-point favorites against a winless, injury-depleted team with coach Tyrone Willingham on the hot seat.
"It's another one of those games like that," OSU coach Mike Riley said of the concern of being overconfident. "It's going to be the same message of a week ago about respect and knowledge of the opponent. Then we have got to play better than them on Saturday."
The Huskies (0-5, 0-3) have been in a down cycle in recent years. The Beavers (3-3, 2-1) have won the last four meetings, including three straight in Husky Stadium from 2004-06.
Games have been close with heated battles. Last year's six-point OSU victory in Corvallis was memorable with bad officiating that nearly changed the outcome, OSU safety Al Afalava knocking out Washington quarterback Jake Locker, ejections as tensions escalated and the near-riot scene in the stands.
"Playing the Northwest schools is fun," senior defensive end Slade Norris said. "I have friends going to those schools. Washington has always given us great games, it's always close."
Riley hopes his players can focus on this game, get the win and move on. He doesn't want them distracted with the rivalry, being expected to win big and the Huskies fighting for their coach.
The Beavers were ready last Saturday in a similar matchup with Washington State as 30-point favorites, but that game was at home and there wasn't any bad blood going in.
"The best thing to do is not worry about that because we have no control over it," Riley said about Washington's situation. "That's the way it is. We have momentum and we have to keep going."
Locker is the centerpiece of the Huskies, but is out with a thumb injury. He made the offense go as a passer and runner.
It has been a time of trial-and-error the last game and a half in attempts to revitalize the offense with Ronnie Fouch at quarterback.
The defense hasn't stopped teams on a consistent basis. The Huskies rank near the bottom of the
Pac-10 and in the nation in several statistical categories.
However, the Huskies are coming off a bye week. The extra time will give them the opportunity to add new plays to their schemes and get healthy.
"We still have to prepare for what they've done, and be ready to adjust," Riley said. "If they spend any time with new wrinkles in the bye week, we'll find them out quickly and adjust to it."
Riley's primary motivational tool this week is winning a road game. The Beavers haven't done that this season with losses at Stanford, Penn State and Utah.
The Utah game was mostly well-played, so the Beavers don't have a hang-up playing outside of Reser Stadium.
Still, getting the first road win should help their confidence with the last two road games this season at UCLA on Nov. 8 and Arizona on Nov. 22.