Document text
48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 26, 2004 Beavers get torched by Sun Devils By CLIFF KIRKPATRICK for the Mail Tribune TEMPE, Ariz. — For all the subplots, it came down to the basic premises of persistence and turnovers. After another strong start, the Oregon State football team faltered as the game progressed Saturday night. That allowed No. 22-ranked Arizona State to come back for a 27-14 Pac-10 Conference victory on Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10) improved steadily and were aided by three fumbles and two interceptions. Tempers flared at the end, and the Beavers (1-3, 0-1 Pac-10) lost some composure in the second half. They were penalized 10 times for 103 yards. Advertisement It was the conference opener for both teams. The Sun Devils are off to their best start since the 1996 season when they reached the Rose Bowl. The losing streak for the Beavers in Tempe continues. They have not won here in 15 games, dating back to 1969. Arizona State drew on several motivational methods for the game. It started with anger from last year’s rout by the Beavers in Corvallis. Then the players took offense to sophomore OSU cornerback Brandon Browner. Browner matter-of-factly said this week the Beavers would dominate Arizona State again. He also noted the flaws in Sun Devil quarterback Andrew Walter’s game, which allowed him to pick off three passes last year. Words were exchanged with some of the Sun Devils as Browner continued to play his high-level game, breaking up passes on the few occasion he was challenged. The battle of two of the top quarterbacks in the Pac-10 ended inconclusively. OSU’s Derek Anderson was more productive than Walter with a 384-124 advantage in passing yards but became one-dimensional for a rough ending to the night. Anderson didn’t have the benefit of a running game the Beavers established last week against New Mexico. He was pressured, hurried and battered around — sometimes after the play was over. There was inconsistent pressure on Walter, and he missed many opportunities for big gains anyway. However, Walter accomplished enough to win the game. "For everybody’s pass defense, pressure is almost the number one thing — whether you’re blitzing or rushing four guys, you have to be able to disrupt timing," Beaver coach Mike Riley said before the game. "Pressure is a defensive back’s best friend." The defensive backs were busy not allowing many big plays. There was only one, a 17-yard Walter touchdown pass to tight end Zach Miller in the third quarter. While there was plenty of time left, there was a sense of urgency among the Beavers after that score. It gave the Sun Devils a 17-point lead and basically put the game away. Just enough of a running game helped the Sun Devils. The OSU defense contained much of what Arizona State wanted to accomplish but continued bad field position was too much to handle. The Sun Devils gained control of the game after a 13-play, 64-yard drive at the end of the second quarter. They established their running game on the possession. Jesse Ainsworth wrapped up the drive with a 33-yard field goal with 2:01 left in the half. That was his first of two field goals of the night. OSU tried to respond, but quickly fumbled the ball back to Arizona State, giving it up at its own 12-yard line. One play latter, Terry Richardson scored on a reverse. Anderson and running back Dwight Wright were crossed up to where the handoff would take place. Wright nearly knocked Anderson over as the ball slipped away. OSU scored on its initial drive, which was the first time the Sun Devils gave up a point in the first quarter. It was also the first passing touchdown Arizona State has allowed all year, while Anderson extended his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 22. Anderson was 4-for-4 on the 58-yard drive, which ended with a 34-yard toss to Mike Hass. It was an acrobatic catch over the middle as Anderson was driven into the ground. Place-kicker Alexis Serna then trotted into the game and kicked the extra point. It was significant in that it was his first of the year in four tries. He missed three in the season-opening, one- point loss to Louisiana State. Another OSU trend cropped up on the next possession, but this wasn’t a positive one. Anderson zipped a ball to Marcel Love, but the receiver tipped it into the air. Jamar Williams intercepted the ball and returned it 30 yards to the OSU 1-yard line. Williams had bothinterceptions. The Beavers kept the Sun Devils out of the end zone, forcing a 20-yard field goal attempt by Ainsworth. Browner came off the right end untouched and blocked the kick. Arizona State was spotted good field position on its next possession to the OSU 45, after a 28-yard punt return by Richardson. The Sun Devils scored on a 3-yard run by Hakim Hill with 56 seconds left in the first quarter. That was the first rushing touchdown of the year for Arizona State, and it was the first time the Beavers allowed first-quarter points this season. Emmanuel Franklin saved a second-quarter touchdown for the Sun Devils. Anderson found tight end Joe Newton for a 31-yard reception, but knocked the ball loose right before Newton crossed the goal line. Rudy Burgess recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback. The Beavers rallied for a late touchdown, scored by Wright on a 1-yard run. Cliff Kirkpatrick covers Oregon State football for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers