Cliff Kirkpatrick

BERKLEY, Calif. – It was interesting watching the players after the Oregon State football team’s upset of No. 2 Cal on Saturday.

You could see the clarity in them and how they are supposed to play. It was most evident in QB Sean Canfield. Much of my main story in Sunday’s GT is devoted to his breakout game.

The most striking thing was how he reminded me of Matt Moore last year when Moore had his breakout game at Washington. The way Canfield talked and called the Beavers his team was impressive.

I said he could catch on faster in the offense than Moore and Derek Anderson because he was in the system longer as a backup. If he continues his growth, he could prove me right.

However, he has to keep it up. Coach Mike Riley was happy with him but was a cautious coach.

“We haven’t arrived,” Riley said. “We had other opportunities to score and didn’t. But there were a lot of good things we can build on. We’ll enjoy this victory going into he bye and get better from here.”

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The Beavers have put themselves in good position to reach a bowl game. They need at least two more wins, three would guarantee a bowl.

There are three winnable games ahead with Stanford, Washington and Washington State. And with the way they played here, USC and Oregon are not as long of a shot anymore.

“Maybe we can win out from here,” DE Jeff Van Orsow said. “Stranger things have happened.”

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CB Tim Clark came through in place of Keenan Lewis (knee). He was beat a couple of times and was flagged for interference, but he had two key pass breakups.

“Tim Clark played a great game,” LB Joey LaRocque said. “He backed up what he said he was going to do.”

- Cliff

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