Beavs open with a bang over Portland State

OREGON STATE STARTED off their 2009 campaign with a bang -- an 87-yard scoring strike on their first play from scrimmage opened the gates. The Beavs' first offensive play in the second half went 47 yards and to paydirt, too. And the Rodgers brothers took both footballs into the end zone, keying the the 34-7 victory over Portland State.

It wasn't always perfect. The Beavers have things to work on -- like run blocking up front and tightening up the defensive secondary. But those units also rose up whenever PSU threatened on Saturday, and the Beavs were never seriously tested in their first game of the season.

Sean Canfield hit his targets on the play side and did pretty much whatever he wanted for the time he was in -- the senior unofficially was 8-for-11 for 185 yards with 1 TD and no interceptions. The Beavs did not turn the ball over on the day.

An 87-yard bomb on their first play from scrimmage, from Canfield to James Rodgers, traveled about 50 yards off the arm of the senior lefty quarterback and opened the scoring. It was the sixth longest pass play in program history.

Quon also added a 45-yard kickoff to start the second half. On the ensuing snap, brother Jacquizz Rodgers went over the century rushing mark with a stop-and-go 43-yard jet blast that left would-be tacklers, the field over, looking for their shoelaces.

The PAT put the Beavs up 31-0 eight seconds into the third quarter.

David Pa'aluhi was a beast against the run. Early on, the middle 'backer for the Beavs also combined with corner Tim Clark to force a fumble on the second PSU possession that gave the Beavs the ball at the Viking 38-yard line.

THE BEAVS USED seven plays to matriculate down the field, the capper coming on a Jacquizz Rodgers run -- he was seemingly stopped at the 2-yard line but powered through to the end zone, with a little help from right guard Gregg Peat. Quizz' run gave the Beavs a 14-0 lead.

PSU bested the Beaver secondary through the air on the next drive. But after the OSU defense pushed back, a PSU field goal attempt went begging. A Justin Kahut 50-yarder, a career long for the OSU place-kicker, made it 17-0 with 13:05 left in the second quarter.

EARLY ON, Portland State did an above average job against Quizz and the Beaver run game -- it wasn't until midway through the second quarter Quizz began to hit those cutbacks for healthy yardage gainers Beaver Nation has come to relish.

The Beavs went to their rotation on defense early in the game, and the Viks, all in all, moved the football fairly well between the 20's.

But Oregon State stiffened to end Viking drives and kept PSU off the scoreboard most of the game. PSU missed a scoring chance with an unsuccessful fake off a FG attempt with 16 seconds left before halftime. Later, a goal line stand by the Beaver D turned back PSU on the 1-yard line early in the fourth. PSU found the end zone on a quarterback keeper with 2:51 left in the final quarter.

For the Beavs, Damola Adeniji had a pair of nice catch and runs in the first half, while Keaton Kristick was putting his hat in on plays from sideline to sideline throughout. Dwight Roberson also turned in some big hits against both run and pass.

UP FRONT, d-tackles Stephen Paea, Latu Moala and Castro Masaniai played stout against the run. The OSU pass rush was a different story. The Beaver d-ends had a quiet day, PSU quarterback Drew Hubel wasn't pressured for the most part with the Beavs only sending four most of the day.

DE Gabe Miller, however, played well in rotation and had a great backside run stop plus a sack.

QB Ryan Katz entered early in the third quarter with the Beavs up 31-0 and while there were a number of hand-offs to backup RB Jovan Stevenson, the Beavs continued to add to their yardage totals through the air.

Katz hooked up with Aaron Nichols on a 46-yarder on a rainbow that was virtually all arm by the backup quarterback. It led to another Kahut field goal. Later, in the waning moments, Katz hit Joe Halahuni for a 36-yard gainer.

We'll have more a little later on here on BF.C..