Week 14: Oregon State at Oregon

The big problem with the 111th Civil War is this: Both teams may have to go to battle without several generals.

Most glaring, the Ducks won’t have superlative quarterback Dennis Dixon, his career over after his much publicized knee ligament tear, and likely his replacement, Brady Leaf, who is highly questionable with two sprained ankles, while the next guy in line, Nic Costas, is out with a knee injury. That leaves redshirt freshman Cody Kempt, who was fifth on the depth chart to enter the season, as the starter, and redshirt freshman Justin Roper as the back-up.

Pressed into serious duty for the first time in a 16-0 setback to UCLA, Kempt and Roper couldn’t make anything happen. The Ducks collectively rushed for 43 yards and passed for 105, lows in coach Mike Bellotti’s Oregon tenure, and threw three interceptions and fumbled three times.

Oregon State will go a third consecutive game without usual starter Sean Canfield, out with a shoulder injury, which leaves stocky sophomore Lyle Moevao as the first-teamer.

Where the Beavers might be in trouble is at tailback, listing highly dependable tailback Yvenson Bernard, the school’s second all-time rusher, as “questionable” at best after he submitted to arthroscopic knee surgery last week.

Yet Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart, the league’s leading rusher, has been slowed considerably by a turf toe injury and his effectiveness is unknown.

At wide receiver, the Ducks are so thin they shifted freshman Jeffrey Maehl from safety to a pass-catching position against UCLA, and he came up with the most productive play for his team, a 21-yard reception.

Don’t even remind Bellotti that he’s lost two starting linebackers, A.J. Tuitele and John Bacon.

Of course, the Beavers have gone most of the season without wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (kidney) and offensive guard Jeremy Perry (broken leg), both All-American candidates, and a host of other players they were counting on.

“I’ve never gone into a game with this situation anywhere I’ve coached, and that’s 35 years,” Bellotti said.

With Dixon in the saddle, Oregon was a bona fide national championship contender with a big lead in the Pac-10 standings; without him, Bellotti’s team has lost consecutive games to lesser opponents and may have to settle for one of the league’s consolation prizes again, the Holiday or Sun bowls or elsewhere, when so much more was in reach.

The Ducks, who lead the series 55-45-10, will simply hope for the best, wishing more than anything that emotions carry this team against its rival.

“The first thing we have to do is settle on a depth chart and say, ‘These guys are going to play, this is what they can do and now let’s design a game plan that allows them to be successful,’ ” Bellotti said bravely.

Oregon State, which has won five of the last eight games against Oregon, including 30-28 last season at home, has the advantage of knowing that Moevao can do the job behind center. He’s led the Beavers to victories over the Washington schools.

Bernard’s availability, however, is far more concerning. The falloff from the 3,685-yard career rusher to his backup, Matt Sieverson, a 202-yard ground gainer this season, is significant.

“I don’t know what to say, except that it’s that kind of year,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “You never know what’s going to happen next and obviously the Ducks have been through a ton themselves.”

Yet there’s nothing wrong with the Beavers’ superb defense, which boasts the linebacking trio of Joey LaRocque, Derrick Doggett and Al Afalava, the team’s leading tacklers, plus defensive linemen Victor Butler and Norris Slade, who have 9.5 and 9 sacks, respectively.

Oregon State also has the better kicker in Alex Serna, who has connected on 17 field goals in 22 tries.

The home team has won this game for the past decade, but the comforts of home likely won’t be enough for Oregon to survive this time. The Beavers simply will have more bodies show up. The healthiest team will win.

Oregon State by 8