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Late James Rodgers TD saves Beavers 26-19

UCLA rallies from 16-point deficit to tie game in fourth quarter

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Oct 31, 2009, Updated Oct 31, 2009

SOOBUM IM

Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers slices through the UCLA defense Saturday at Reser Stadium.

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CORVALLIS – There was nothing easy about Oregon State’s 26-19 victory over UCLA Saturday at Reser Stadium.

Right down to the final Hail Mary launched by UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince – it was hauled in, by the way, by the Bruins’ Taylor Embree at the OSU 15-yard line as time expired – there was the sneaking suspicion that Oregon State might still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Beavers (5-3 overall, 3-2 in Pac-10 play) won after James Rodgers raced 17 yards on a reverse for a touchdown with 44 seconds left, capping a seven-play, 70-yard drive after UCLA (3-5, 0-5) had rallied from a 19-3 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 19-19 with 2:06 to play.

Even then, the Bruins weren’t through. Starting from their own 24-yard line with no timeouts and 39 seconds remaining, they completed passes of 24, 14, 9 and 12 yards before the final gun.

“We had some chances to pull off a memorable one,” said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, whose Bruins have lost five Pac-10 games in a row after starting the season with three nonconference victories. “There were some sparks that hopefully can grow as this season comes into the final month.”

There were harrowing moments late, but Oregon State moved within a win of bowl eligibility with four regular-season games yet to play.

“We’re not ever going to not take the time to enjoy a win,” OSU coach Mike Riley said. “These games are all hard to win.

“There’s a lot of stuff that wasn’t perfect today, but there was a lot of good play by both teams. We earned the win, but it was hard, and we made it harder on ourselves. Now we can go work hard to correct that and try to make it better.”

For much of the game, it seemed that Oregon State would secure a comfortable victory. OSU led 16-0 at halftime and 19-3, and it seemed as if the Bruins – who had only 164 yards total offense through three quarters – could play until Halloween’s witching hour without reaching the end zone.

In the final quarter, though, UCLA had eight first downs and 208 yards total offense – 198 through the air – along with two passing touchdowns and two passing two-point conversions.

“Teams are going to score, you know?” said Oregon State linebacker Dwight Roberson, who had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. “That’s football. You just have to come right back and try to stop them again.

“They had the same play calls the first half. Teams make plays sometimes. You can’t let it faze you.”

UCLA stunned the Beavers – and got back into the game – when Nelson Rosario hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Prince with 8:39 remaining. The 6-5, 210-pound Rosario leaped over OSU’s James Dockery for the catch, then raced down the sidelines to paydirt. Prince connected with Rosario on the two-point conversion, and the Bruins were within 19-11.

“The big receiver made a huge play,” Riley said. “That was impressive. I thought James had good coverage on him. So it’s bang-bang, and they’re back in it.”

Oregon State went three-and-out, and UCLA’s Terrence Austin returned the ensuing punt 87 yards for a touchdown. It was nullified by a block in the back, however, and the Bruins took the ball at their own 6-yard line with 6:49 to play.

The OSU defense forced a UCLA punt, but a penalty for 12 men on the field kept the Bruins’ drive alive.

“They quick-snapped us, and we didn’t get everybody off the field,” Riley said. “That’s an error on our part.”

A 45-yard pass from Prince to Rosario took the Bruins to the Beaver 4-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the 7, Prince found Embree on a fade route in the end zone for a touchdown. After Johnathan Franklin took a swing pass and converted for two points, it was tied at 19-19 with 2:06 left.

“We had enough time and we had (two) timeouts left,” said OSU quarterback Sean Canfield, who completed 25 of 34 passes for 305 yards. “We’ve been there before. It’s not really a panic situation for us. We run the two-minute drill every week. It’s something we’re used to running.

“When UCLA scored to tie the game, (center) Alex Linnenkohl jumped up off the bench and said, ‘Hey, let’s go. Let’s do this.’ He got the huddle going on the sidelines, and I started warming up.”

The Beavers were thinking about moving downfield to set up a field- goal attempt by Justin Kahut, who had already made four three-pointers in the game and has won two games in the last two seasons with game-winning kicks.

“We knew what we had to do,” OSU tight end Brady Camp said. “We had to go down and get in field-goal range.”

“That was a definite option,” Riley said, “but you’d rather score a touchdown.”

On first down from the OSU 30, Canfield fired a sideline pass right to UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner. Verne dropped what should have been an interception.

“That’s on me,” Canfield said. “We have to clean that up. It could have been real bad.”

The Bruins “snuck into cover two, and their corners walked up (to the line of scrimmage),” Riley said. “It changes the whole complexion of the read for the quarterback. And (Canfield) didn’t see it. We were very fortunate. I thought, ‘That does a lot for your confidence.’

“I was ready to go home. I didn’t know if I wanted to watch the rest.”

The Beavers regained their composure immediately, however.

On second-and-10, Canfield hit Jacquizz Rodgers on a screen pass that covered 22 yards to the UCLA 48. The Beavers were back in rhythm again, as James Rodgers (eight yards), Quizz (10) and Joe Halahuni (15) all had receptions to move the ball to the Bruins’ 20.

On second-and-seven from the UCLA 17, Canfield faked a handoff to Quizz into the line of scrimmage and gave the ball to James on an end-around play. The junior flanker rode a convoy of blockers into the end zone, and the Beavers were in front 26-19.

“The guys up front did a great job blocking, and the receivers downfield, too,” James said. “Coach had been harping on that for the receivers to make touchdown blocks.”

Oregon State’s offensive numbers were good – 23 first downs, 463 yards total offense, no turnovers. OSU’s biggest problem was its inability to advance once it reached touchdown territory. Five trips inside the UCLA 30 resulted in field-goal attempts. Kahut converted from 48, 42, 27 and 31 yards and missed from 47.

“Those have to be touchdowns,” Canfield said. “We saw at the end of that game how important that is. That’s what’s keeping up from getting over the hump offensively.”

“We don’t want to kick unless it’s extra points,” James Rodgers said. “Once we’re in the red zone, we have to score (touchdowns).”

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