RECAPS: Quizz rolls; defense steps up

BOWL ELIGIBLE SEEMS to be the words of choice for the Oregon media as the Beavers got their sixth win of the season qualifying them for postseason play. The California media comes to terms with the fact that UCLA will probably not be going bowling and an offensive line that is struggling to block for both the running and passing game.

| From an Oregon State Perspective |

Win in Rose Bowl has OSU a step closer to return trip
One more down, and that’s as far as Oregon State would take it Saturday.

Even after beating UCLA, 34-6, before an announced attendance of 83,478 in the Rose Bowl, the one thing that wasn’t even being uttered by any of the Beavers was being back here on Jan. 1 as the Pac-10 representative to the Rose Bowl game itself ... more from the Register Guard | Game report

Riley, Beavers not yet smelling Roses
Before the Oregon State football team can begin counting down to a long-awaited return to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day, the Beavers realize they have a few more mountains to climb.

They cleared a sizable barrier Saturday night against UCLA, ending a five-game losing streak against the Bruins with a convincing 34-6 victory at the Rose Bowl ... more from the Mail Tribune.

Beavers bowl-eligible after big win over UCLA
The Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James, had another big day.

But top billing for Oregon State’s 34-6 victory over UCLA Saturday at the Rose Bowl goes to the Beaver defense ... more from the Portland Tribune.

Beaver D, Quizz roll up UCLA
FLEXING THEIR DEFENSIVE muscles, and on the strength of record setting sensation RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State overcame key first half mistakes to win going away 34-6 over UCLA on Saturday to become bowl eligible. OSU's stop corps owned the line of scrimmage -- DT Stephen Paea and DE Victor Butler spent so much time in the UCLA backfield their mail will probably be delivered there next week.

And sometimes, stats don't lie. Jacquizz Rodgers went over the 1,000 yard mark on the season in the first half, over the 100-yard mark for the game near the end of the third quarter, (finishing unofficially with 144 hashes on the day) and then in the fourth quarter, Quizz broke the all-time Pac-10 season freshman rushing record (Darrin Nelson, Stanford, '77) ... more from BeaverFootball.com.

UCLA can’t slow Rodgers
All week the UCLA football team told the area media that it planned to stop Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

The Bruins figured if they contained the true freshman, the Beavers wouldn’t be able to run the offense with backup quarterback Sean Canfield ... more from the Gazette Times | Sideline briefing

Beavers have that special feeling these days
Sean Canfield has been feeling something special happening around the Oregon State football team.

Where that leads the Beavers will be determined over the final three regular-season games ... more from the Gazette Times | Report card

Beavers win in Pasadena, hope for return trip
Oregon State's who-would-have-believed-it march to its first Rose Bowl in 43 years came one step closer to reality Saturday as the Beavers shrugged off a lethargic first half to finally put UCLA out of its misery, 34-6.

No one screamed "We'll be back!" as players danced and high-fived their way into the locker room, but some were probably thinking it ... more from The Oregonian | Notes

Punter finds his footing after nearly getting boot
Freshman walk-on punter Johnny Hekker took note this week when Oregon State coach Mike Riley said he was thinking about giving freshman Ryan Allen a shot at the job if Hekker's performance didn't improve.

Riley said Hekker had a lot of talent, but wasn't showing it in the games -- kicking poorly and with little hang time ... more from The Oregonian.

| From a UCLA Perspective |

Bruins are put into a corner by Oregon State
In the far corner of UCLA's locker room, running back Kahlil Bell stood straight up and spoke defiantly about keeping the team's solidarity intact.

A moment later, nearly catty-corner from Bell, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell smiled, shook his head and vowed the same thing ... more from the Daily News.

By default, Craft still Bruins' starting QB
UCLA quarterback Ben Olson is back practicing, but offensive coordinator Norm Chow said the lefty isn't close to being physically ready to play.

And Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel intimated backup quarterback Chris Forcier's command of the offense remains subpar, meaning Kevin Craft is expected to remain the starter despite another poor performance in Saturday's 34-6 loss to Oregon State at the Rose Bowl ... more from the Daily News.

Neuheisel: No playing blame game
Rick Neuheisel grabbed a microphone and gave his traditional postgame pep talk to UCLA fans, the few that hadn't already exited the Rose Bowl.

The postgame locker-room speech the public didn't see was much more consequential ... more from the Daily News.

Oregon State roars past UCLA, 34-6
Maybe the UCLA football team should pity its rival from the other side of town.

OK, so Oregon State's 34-6 pounding of the Bruins at the Rose Bowl Saturday was a lot more lopsided than what it put on USC six weeks earlier in Corvallis, Ore. But in this case, the Beavers just told the Bruins what they already knew ... more from the OC Register.

Oregon State steps closer to the Rose
At the end of the Rose Bowl's west tunnel Saturday evening, Oregon State players and coaches were greeted by a sign draped over a stadium walkway.

"54 days until Rose Bowl." ... more from the OC Register.

Oregon State pulls away from UCLA
The talk in the UCLA locker room after Saturday's game wasn't so much about running pass routes or blitzing the quarterback.

It was about pointing fingers ... more from the LA Times.

For Bruins, essentials are barely there
Do you see improvement?

Have the 2008 UCLA football Bruins come to understand what it takes to run and pass and take advantage of slight cracks at opportunity? ... more form the LA Times.

Defense (almost) boxes in Rodgers
All week long, the UCLA defensive players talked about building a cage around Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. They talked about stopping the big cutback runs that hurt USC earlier this season.

It almost worked ... more from the LA Times.

Bruins' Harwell not moping
The clog in the middle of UCLA's defensive line wouldn't be knocked for feeling that his comeback season has gone down the drain.

Brigham Harwell worked hard to make it back to the Bruins for a final season at defensive tackle, except his resiliency isn't being rewarded. With karma like this, who needs to put forth the energy? ... more from The Sun.

No easy fix, or bowl, for UCLA
If you were looking for beauty in Pasadena Saturday, you'd lock your eyes on the Rose Bowl's dazzling mountain backdrop.

If for some reason you were trying to avoid beauty, well, you'd have just kept your eyes on the Rose Bowl's home team ... more from the Press Enterprise.

UCLA's bowl hopes dwindle with loss
At one point in the first half, UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft took the snap and tried to hand off to tailback Kahlil Bell. But the two collided, and Craft was thrown for a loss on the broken play.

It was just another reminder that nine games into this season, the Bruins' offense still hasn't figured out how to get out of its own way ... more from The Press Enterprise.

Bruins' line a pushover again
As he took a seat in the media room and sipped on a bottle of water, it didn't take UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel very long to explain why his team is having trouble winning football games.

Yet again, the Bruins were manhandled along the offensive line, mustering 48 yards rushing and allowing three sacks against an Oregon State front that may be one of the best in the Pacific-10 Conference this season ... more from the Press Enterprise.