Cliff Kirkpatrick

The Oregon State football team put up a good fight in an ugly contest, and lost to Cincinnati 28-18 on Saturday in Reser Stadium.

Here’s a link to the Beavers Report Card. Here’s a link to the OSU notebook. Here’s a link to my main story, looking at where the team is after this one.

The game was another example of how important RB Jacquizz Rodgers is to the offense. He wasn’t full strength due to an ankle injury, and wasn’t able to grind out the yards.

“It was a little tender,” Rodgers said. “My ankle held up well. I got prepared during the week with treatment to get me prepared.”

OSU used various other methods to move the ball, but with inconsistent results. WR James Rodgers picked up the slack with short passes and the fly sweep.

“We had spurts we could execute,” coach Mike Riley said. “We just had a disastrous second quarter. It came at a horrible time. We had a couple decent drives (in the first quarter) but had six points. That loomed so big. We move the ball and got six points, and they make one play and were ahead.”

Of course that brought up the too much Rodgers brother question again. The Bearcats keyed on Quizz and were ready for James, but he still gained 157 offensive yards.

“That’s probably true in some regard,” Riley said of Cincinnati not worrying about anyone other than the Rodgers brothers. “We have to look at that. We do have guys we should get involved more and should make more plays. I think that will happen. We didn’t take a forward step with some guys tonight. I’ll just say that.”

QB Sean Canfield had an off game. Part of it was the pass rush and part good coverage he couldn’t find anyone open at times.

The overall offense couldn’t punch it into the end zone when it got in close. The blown first-and-goal on the 5-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter hurt the Beavers.

“I don’t want to go through that series,” Riley said. “That was horrible. We got beat on penetration inside and lost yardage. We back it up with another play that was a double screen. That fails and we are in a situation where Quizz had to run it and didn’t make it. We kick the field goal, it wasn’t very good.”

The defense did a good job containing the 2-minute drill all game. The pass rush improved. And let’s just say the officials were kind to the Bearcats when it came to their holding of the D-linemen.

Special teams were far better than last week from the kicking game, kick coverage and returns.

Video report
The above video is of the Rodgers brothers with the media after the game. The below video is of CB Tim Clark. The one at the very bottom is of LB Keaton Kristick.

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Early pregame talk in the press box centered around the GT’s game picks in the Game Day Section and RB Jacquizz Rodgers.

The official word on Rodgers (ankle) is it’s a game-time decision if he plays. However, logic and experience covering the Beavers tells me he plays.

Coach Mike Riley kept Rodgers out of practice to keep him fresh and to make sure his minor injury doesn’t linger late into the season. The answer will be known soon. UPDATE: Quizz started the game as expected.

Also, people noticed I was the only one on the GT staff to pick Cincinnati to win. My predicted score was 34-28.

When I pick games I usually go with betting line, and the Bearcats are slightly favored. Sometimes I just go on a hunch. At least I got people talking, and that’s point of those picks.

Check the blog throughout the game. I’ll be updating throughout.

First quarter
The Beavers started with a great first defensive stand to force a punt. James Rodgers is now the punt returner. The offense sputtered and only got a 46-yard Justin Kahut FG.

Another great defensive outing, a 3-and-out. WR Darrell Catchings entered the game and caught an 18-yard pass. OT Mike Remmers kills a drive with a 15-yard hands to the face penalty. Kahut comes through with a 39-yard FG.

Third 3-and-out. CB James Dockery has a TFL and a pass breakup. OSU goes to Rodgers and Taylor Kavanaugh since Cincy punted away from Rodgers the last time. Offense stalls. QB Sean Canfield is missing high a lot today.

Second quarter
Cincy offense starts to pick up end of first quarter with the passing game. QB Tony Pike scored on a 7-yard TD scramble.

Special teams playing better. Rodgers has 38-yard KOR. P Johnny Hekker gets his punt downed on Cincy’s 1-yard line. That leads to a safety with the defensive making a tackle of the RB, who couldn’t get out of the end zone.

Cincy’s offense continues to improve. The defense, however, is making the Bearcats work hard for the latest score, a 1-yard run by Isaiah Pead. 14-8 Cincy.

Jacquizz Rodgers isn’t as dominating as usual and the WRs are not getting open for Canfield. Defense continues to play well, and is pressing the QB.

And Cincy takes control. Pike hit DJ Woods with a 45-yard TD pass right before the half. Cincy 21-8. Not looking good for the Beavers.

Here’s a pic of the stands in at the end of the first quarter.

Third quarter
The Beavers needed that 80-yard TD drive to open the half, or it would have gotten ugly. Committing to the run a game helped. Quizz set it up 24-yarder on the first play and capped it off with a 9-yard score.

Both teams are struggling on offense. Penalties are flying with procedure and personal fouls. LB Keaton Kristick picks off a pass with 4:51 left in the third quarter. That was the first of his career.

Fourth quarter
The drive started in the third quarter, and looked good. Then it broke down in the fourth. OSU still got a 23-yard FG from Kahut.

Cincy comes back with a 19-yard TD pass from Pike to Mardy Gilyard. Bearcats were fortunate that a questionable fumble call went their way. It’s 28-18 with 8:03 left in the game. David Pa’aluhi stripped Woods, but his forward progress was stopped before the strip.

An INT with 5:24 left in the game sealed it. It was tipped off of Catchings. It was OSU’s first turnover of the season. The Beavers were the last D-IA school to have a turnover.

I’m headed out. Postgame blog will be up as soon as I can. It will be updated a few times in the night.

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Here are some items about the Oregon State football team to entertain and inform you headed into this afternoon’s home game against No. 17-ranked Cincinnati.

Above is a video highlight package of the PSU game that was shown to the players before the UNLV game to pump them up.

Here’s a link to the front page story of the GT’s Game Day special section in today’s paper. It’s the five area the Beavers must win to win the game.

Here’s a like to the players to watch in the game. It’s a QB battle featuring OSU’s Sean Canfield and Cincy’s Tony Pike.

Here are links to stuff during the week you may have missed: Game advance story, Cincy scouting report, how good Canfield is playing this season, what WRs Casey Kjos and Damola Adeniji did this summer, get to know CB Tim Clark and WR Darrell Catchings is ready to play today.

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