Week 12: Oregon State at Washington State

Oregon State coach Mike Riley was replaying a controversial fumble by Beavers running back Yvenson Bernard, a supposed bobble against Washington in which the senior reached for the goal line while most of his body already was touching the ground. The Huskies picked up the loose ball and marched to the opposing 29 before running out of downs and losing 29-23. No replay was examined by the officials, an oversight that later was admonished by the league.

“It was a potential season-changing play,” Riley said. “I have nightmares about that.”

More might be coming this Saturday. In the overly emotional game last weekend against Washington, in which Huskies quarterback Jake Locker was carted away to a hospital after a blow to the head, three Beavers later were ejected for fighting.

All are defensive backs, two of them starters.

They’ll be forced to sit out the first half in Pullman, allowing prolific Washington State passer Alex Brink plenty of time to get warmed up and maybe put an insurmountable cushion on the scoreboard before the shackles come off the Oregon State secondary members.

Starting cornerback Brandon Hughes and first-team strong safety Bryan Payton, and James Dockery, a freshman reserve safety who also plays special teams, are the ones who were singled out for added Pac-10 punishment. Hughes’ absence galls Riley more than anything. The coach maintains the junior was only trying to play peacemaker during one of several fights that took place.

“He was a separator,” Riley said. “He never threw a punch. But you know what? It is what it is. We retaliated. We could have had better self control.”

Oregon State, considered the league’s top defensive unit when at full strength, is going to need something to slow down Brink, who is coming off a 449-yard passing effort in a 33-17 victory over Stanford. For the season, the senior has completed 257 of 418 passes for 3,105 yards and 21 touchdowns, with just nine interceptions.

Brink might not have one of his favorite targets available, senior tight end Jed Collins. The short-yardage receiver left the Stanford game with a severe ankle sprain. He ranks fifth in the conference in receiving with 52 catches for 512 yards and three scores. He remains a questionable participant against the Beavers.

For the second consecutive week, Oregon State won’t have its usual starting quarterback, Sean Canfield, who is out with a shoulder injury. Lyle Moevao, more of a runner than a passer, will lead the team again, which is all right with the Cougars.

“Canfield throws the ball real well,” WSU coach Bill Doba said. “Obviously, we’d rather see the other guy.”

The Beavers would prefer to see some one other than Brink, but that’s not going to happen. They’ll need to patch together a secondary for 30 minutes, somehow, some way.

The late afternoon game in the Palouse will be extra cold, with temperatures dropping into the 30s the week before against Stanford. The contest should be emotional, too, with Brink making his final home showing and the embattled Doba maybe his final Martin Stadium coaching appearance before an expected offseason firing. Something says the Cougars, who lead the series 47-41-3, pull together here and pull a big upset.

Washington State by 2