Oregon State rolls past Cougars, 42-10

PULLMAN — Talk about undermanned.

The Washington State Cougars went into Saturday's Pac-10 Conference game against 20th-ranked Oregon State with 13 scholarship players on defense in uniform.

And that's on a defense that entered the game last in the nation in total defense, one spot above where the offense sits.

Predictably, the Beavers had their way, especially in the second half, leaving Martin Stadium on a cool, breezy Saturday with a 42-10 victory and keeping their Rose Bowl hopes alive.

The winner of the Oregon State at Oregon game on Dec. 3 will win the Pac-10 title and trip to the Rose Bowl.

Saturday's announced crowd of 16,167 — WSU's least-attended game since a hastily scheduled Montana State makeup contest in 2001, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — on Senior Day saw WSU keep it close for a half, something that hasn't happened often in this 1-10 season.

"I thought they played better today than they've played," said Oregon State coach Mike Riley. "I think they should be proud of their team for how they played, and I'm proud of ours for winning the game."

That probably wasn't ever in doubt. It's just how OSU got there that was somewhat surprising.

The Cougars had a starting safety, set to sub for another injured starter, not suit up with a shoulder injury. A starting linebacker and defensive tackle were suspended this week for violations of team rules. One backup defensive lineman had his right hand in a cast and did not play. And, on the fourth play of the game, Brandon Jones, their best cover cornerback, went down — and out — with a back injury.

With the makeshift group playing a makeshift defense — WSU usually plays a 4-3 most downs but went with a 3-4 for all 76 plays — the Cougars (1-10 overall, 0-8 in the Pac-10) gave up three early Oregon State scoring drives and trailed 21-3 midway through the second quarter.

And the Beavers were poised to score again three minutes later.

But safety Xavier Hicks, one of 14 WSU seniors honored before the game, picked off one of Sean Canfield's few errant passes — Canfield finished 22 of 29 for 231 yards and two touchdowns — at the WSU 9-yard line, giving the Cougars defense a boost.

"It really hyped up the defense," said Easton Johnson, who up until Thursday was a receiver but played all but 10 plays at safety. "We need to make big plays to motivate us just to keep going, to make ourselves better."

Johnson epitomized WSU's struggles — he switched sides after backup cornerback Anthony Houston tore up his knee Wednesday — and its resolve. The junior walk-on, who was a backup safety last season, was credited with 10 tackles.

"Easton Johnson, that was a tremendous job," said linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis, who led WSU with a career-high 15 tackles, "coming over last minute and really stepping up."

Hicks' interception, and an ensuing three-and-out, the only one of the game for the WSU defense, gave the offense some much-needed breathing room.

"We got it going," Riley said of his offense, "and it's too bad Sean threw that interception. [Hicks] surprised him in the coverage. Up to that point [our offense] was spectacular."

Oregon State sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers finished with 165 yards on 24 carries, and added five catches for 39 yards, and scored two touchdowns.