Saturday, October 18th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Husky Stadium (72,500) -- Seattle, Washington.
Television: FSN. Home Record: OSU 3-0, Washington 0-3. Away Record: OSU 0-3,
Washington 0-2. Neutral Record: OSU 0-0, Washington 0-0. Conference Record:
OSU 2-1, Washington 0-3. Series Record: Washington leads, 57-31-4.
GAME NOTES: The Washington Huskies will try to grab their first victory of the
season when they host the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday in a Pac-10 battle
in Seattle. Since opening with two straight losses, the Beavers have won three
of their last four games, including a convincing 66-13 victory over Washington
State last weekend. The Beavers have struggled on the road this year, however,
losing three times away from home, but over the two previous campaigns the
team has collected a solid 7-5 mark on the road. As for the Huskies, they have
yet to taste victory this season, and dating back to last year the team has
dropped seven consecutive games. The last time Washington was on the field the
team suffered an embarrassing 48-14 setback to Arizona. Since the 2004 season,
the Huskies have been the doormat in the Pac-10, posting a pathetic 6-31
ledger against league foes. The Huskies own a commanding 57-31-4 lead over
Oregon State in the all-time series, and have won 15 of the last 20 matchups.
The Beavers' success this season can be pinned on the team's tremendous play
offensively, as they are averaging 435.5 total ypg, and that has led to 34.7
ppg. The ground game has been rock solid, as the team is pounding out 164.3
ypg on 4.3 ypc. Jacquizz Rodgers has been the main option out of the backfield
for OSU, as the freshman has rumbled for 718 yards and eight touchdowns. The
passing attack has been just as potent, as Lyle Moevao has thrown for 1,588
yards and 12 scores against eight interceptions. Moevao has relied heavily on
Sammie Stroughter and Shane Morales, as the two wideouts have combined for 64
receptions, 882 yards and eight touchdowns. The OSU offense was at full speed
last week, as the Beavers racked up an eye-popping 66 points. Rodgers led the
way with 168 yards and one touchdown, while older brother James Rodgers added
57 yards and a score of his own. Moevao threw for 186 yards in the victory,
and also tossed two TDs, one of which went to Stroughter, who finished with
six receptions and 116 yards.
The defensive unit for Oregon State is surrendering 25.5 ppg on the season,
but the team is only allowing 291.3 total ypg. The Beavers have done
particularly well against the run, limiting the opposition to just 130.2 ypg
on 3.8 ypc. Last weekend, the Beavers put forth an outstanding effort against
Washington State, holding the Cougars to just 132 total yards, including a
mere 53 yards rushing on just 1.3 ypc. The defense forced two turnovers in the
win, and also collected five sacks. It was the best showing for the front line
this year, as the team collected just nine sacks in its previous five games.
Greg Laybourn has been solid for the Beavers this season and currently leads
the team with 50 tackles. Slade Norris has been a menace as well, logging
eight TFLs, 4.5 of which have been sacks.
One of the main reasons for the Huskies' winless mark thus far is due to the
horrendous play of the offense, which is averaging a mere 307.2 ypg and only
18.6 ppg. The ground game has been downright embarrassing, as the Huskies are
rushing for just 103.6 ypg on only 2.9 ypc. The loss of quarterback Jake
Locker has really hurt the squad, but Ronnie Fouch has done a serviceable job
in his place despite completing just 49.3 percent of his throws. He does have
three touchdowns against only one interception. The offensive woes continued
for the Huskies last week, as the team was dominated by Arizona in a 48-14
final. Washington tallied just 244 yards in the loss, and the struggling
ground game came up short once again, accounting for just 63 yards behind 2.2
ypc. As for Fouch, he completed a mere 12-of-28 throws, finishing the game
with 181 yards and one score.
Sadly enough the UW defense has been just as bad, if not worse, as the unit is
being abused for a whopping 495.4 total ypg, and that has led to an equally
poor 42.0 ppg. The defense has struggled against both the run and pass thus
far, as foes are rumbling for 233.4 ypg while adding another 262.0 ypg through
the air. The defense has also struggled to make big plays, coming up with just
four turnovers while collecting only three sacks. The Huskies were horrendous
again last week, yielding 449 total yards to Arizona, including 256 yards on
the ground. Washington allowed the Wildcats to convert 8-of-13 third down
attempts, and 5-of-6 red zone chances. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was one of the few
defensive bright spots, as the lineman made eight tackles, including three
sacks.
The Beavers have struggled on the road this season, but expect them to claim
their first win outside of Corvallis. Oregon State should have little trouble
moving the ball up and down the field against Washington en route to a
relatively easy victory.