Ezra Shaw
By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Oregon State finishes a two-game home stand Saturday, taking on California in the annual homecoming game at Reser Stadium at 1 p.m.
Something has to give here: Cal has lost 14 consecutive Pac-12 road games, while OSU has dropped 12 consecutive league games. Here is a preview:
Oregon State vs. California
Time: 1 p.m. (PDT), Saturday, Oct. 20
Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis
Records: California (3-3, 0-3), Oregon State (1-5, 0-3)
Coaches: Jonathan Smith (first year, Oregon State, 1-5). Justin Wilcox (second year, California, 8-10)
Latest line: Bears by 7
On the air
Pac-12 Network (Comcast 421/720, 420 Oregon), Dish 406, Spectrum 332/452), radio KEX (1190).
Livestream: pac-12.com/live
Oregon State offense vs. California defense
Cal's defense isn't bad, though it came a bit undone a week ago against UCLA, as the Bruins ran for 207 rushing yards in a 37-7 win. The Bears rank 30th nationally in total defense, giving up 334.2 yards a game. On the other hand, Cal has faced only one really good offense this season, that one a 485-yard torching by Oregon in a 42-24 loss to the Ducks. California is opportunistic, with 10 takeaways this season. The Bears will have their hands full against the Pac-12's top running back in freshman Jermar Jefferson, who has run for 865 yards through six games. The Beavers quarterback situation is unsettled, as depending on health and production in practice this week, it could be sophomore Conor Blount or senior Jake Luton. Odds are, it'll be Blount, who has started the past five games but suffered a fourth-quarter shoulder injury against Washington State on Oct. 6. With an extra open week to prepare, look for OSU to try some creativity to get the passing game untracked from a big-play standpoint.
Oregon State defense vs. California offense
The losing streaks aren’t the only thing that has to give in this game. In this matchup, it’s a Cal offense that can’t hang onto the ball against a Beavers defense that struggles for takeaways. The Bears have committed 14 turnovers during their past three games, while OSU has only five takeaways all season. Beyond that, though, Cal is hoping this is the spot to get its offense untracked, because, well every team not named Southern Utah has got untracked against this Beaver defense. Oregon State is among the country’s worst in pass, rushing and total defense. It’ll be interesting to see if the defense made changes or improvements with two weeks to prepare to help with tackling. California’s star on offense is dual threat quarterback Brandon McIlwain. In two starts and six total games, McIlwain has passed for 713 yards and run for 371. The Bears’ most productive skill player is running back Patrick Laird, who leads Cal in rushing yards (384) and receptions (27). In three Pac-12 games, the Bears have scored only 48 points, while OSU has given up 143.
Matchup of note
Not a traditional matchup per se, but more about readiness: Oregon State vs. the game’s early stages. The Beavers have been awful at getting off to fast starts, and it begins on defense. Throwing out the Southern Utah game, OSU opponents have scored 18 times on their first five drives of the game (18 of 25). Fifteen of those 18 scores were touchdowns.
Key stat
Cal senior linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk is a busy man on defense, averaging a Pac-12 best 12.7 tackles per game. Kunaszyk racked up 22 tackles against UCLA, the most by a Bear defender since 1993.
Five things to watch
1. Jefferson may lead the Pac-12 in rushing, but it’s not a sure thing he’s even the team’s best running back. We’ll find out the next few weeks as Artavis Pierce rounds into playing shape. Don’t forget, Pierce was the starter coming out of preseason camp, and ripped off touchdown runs of 80 and 78 yards against Ohio State in the opener. Coach Jonathan Smith has said the two will split carries early in the game, and see if one can get a hot hand.
2. Will the tight end ever matter in this offense as far as a receiving option? The first half of the season shouldn’t be indicative of the tight end’s role at OSU, as Noah Togiai didn’t play much, leaving most of the work to true freshmen Teagan Quitoriano and Isaiah Smalls. But we should learn more in upcoming games, as Togiai is getting closer to 100 percent, and Quitoriano and Smalls have a half-season of experience.
3. Oregon State emptied the playbook for gadget plays against Washington State on Oct. 6. With two weeks to prepare for Cal, will we see something similar?
4. The Beavers are 13 of 16 on fourth-down conversions, and coming off a 5-of-5 performance against WSU. Certainly something to watch as OSU grows in confidence in this area. Will the Beavers be so bold as to try and convert a fourth down on their side of the field?
5. If defensive end Jeromy Reichner makes his 2018 debut against the Bears, it’ll be interesting to see how he impacts the pass rush. Certainly expect a fair amount of rust from Reichner, and his snaps will be limited, but he was thought to be one of the team’s best at reaching the quarterback heading into the season. With only five sacks through six games, the Beavers could use a lift in this area.
The Jefferson watch
With 865 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns and four 100-yard performances through six games, records that are within reach for Jefferson:
- He's 135 yards short of 1,000 yards, becoming the eighth OSU player to accomplish such a feat. Others in OSU history to have run for at least 1,000 yards during a season at least once are Pete Pifer, Steven Jackson, Ken Simonton, Jacquizz Rodgers, Yvenson Bernard, Dave Schilling and Bill Enyart.
- OSU's freshman record of 1,253 yards set by Jacquizz Rodgers in 2008. The Pac-12 record for a freshman is 1,546 yards, set by Oregon's LaMichael James in 2009. The national record is unthinkable at this stage; it's 1,977 yards set by Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor.
The school’s single-season rushing record of 1,690 yards, set by Steven Jackson in 2002.
- Single-season touchdown record of 21 touchdowns, held by Rodgers (2009). One more touchdown puts Jefferson into the top 10 in school history.
- It's a long shot, but the record for 100-yard games for one season is nine, held by Ken Simonton and Jackson. Jackson would need five to tie the record, and six to break it.
Quick notables
Saturday’s homecoming game features Retro Benny, the old-style Benny Beaver drawing that will be displayed on the team’s helmets for the first time since 1973.
Oregon State holds its 2018 Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night. Members of the class will be introduced during Saturday’s game. They are Felicia Ragland (women’s basketball), Sylvia Moore (administrator/coach), Earnel Durden (football), the 2006 and 2007 national championship baseball and 1969-70 and 1970-71 volleyball teams.
A statue honoring former OSU track and field great Dick Fosbury will be unveiled Friday near Dixon Recreation Center. Fosbury will be available for photos and autographs at Parker Plaza before Saturday’s game.
The game’s coaches, OSU’s Smith and Cal’s Justin Wilcox, faced each other as players during the Civil War games. Smith passed for 303 yards in the Beavers’ 44-41 1998 win over Oregon, while Wilcox made nine tackles in the Ducks’ 25-14 1999 win over OSU.
The Bears’ defense has statistically rebounded in less than two years under Wilcox. Cali is giving up 164.3 rushing yards, 169.8 passing yards and 26.8 points a game this season. Compare that to 2016, when the Bears yielded 272.8, 245.4 and 42.8.
Of Oregon State’s final six opponents, California is the only team without a winning overall record. The final five teams have a combined record of 23-8.
Cal’s Ashtyn Davis is the Pac-12 leading kick returner, averaging 28.0 yards per return.
Kunaszyk and linebacker Evan Weaver have combined to make 141 tackles, more than one-third of Cal’s team total of 404.
The Bears have four multi-sport athletes on the team, three who participate in track and field (Malik Morris, Branden Smith, Davis), and one in baseball (McIlwain).
Prediction
Oregon State 34, California 30
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