OSU had a brutal opening schedule this year, and it shows in their 2-2 record. It doesn't get any easier this week with a road game against #9 Arizona Saturday night, the third top ten opponent the Beavs have faced in their first five games.
But give the darned guy credit, Mike Riley and his staff keep teaching, and the Beaver players keep making progress. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz is developing nicely. Last Saturday against ASU he was 19-29 passing for 260 yards, 2 tds and no interceptions, and Katz has not thrown a pick yet this year. In fact, the Beavers are the only team in the FBS without a turnover through week five, a remarkable feat, particularly given their schedule.
Quizz Rodgers broke loose with 145 yards versus the Sun Devils, and the OSU defense finally got some quarterback pressure, sacking Steven Threet six times. Monster DT Stephen Paea had two of those.
Should the Beavers upend Arizona in Tucson (a tall order) that would take them to 3-2 and 2-0 in the PAC-10. This is one of several defining games this week in the conference, and it will be interesting to see how Oregon State responds to another early tough road test, whether they'll be contenders or spoilers in the run for the Rose Bowl.
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