News and Notes - Oregon State

Over the non-conference schedule, the Cougar offense has been producing big numbers, albeit against questionable opposition. Still, the WSU offense is lighting it up on the field, which bodes very well for the Pac-10 schedule. Jason Hill has scored twice in each game so far, giving him 18 career receiving touchdowns. This ties Hill for second all-time for WSU along with Nian Taylor, Deron Pointer, and Devard Darling. Hill only needs four more scores on the season to tie the mark of 22 set by Hugh Campbell, and five touchdowns over the remaining eight games to set the record…Grambling marked Jerome Harrison's sixth straight 100 yard game. This season Harrison is averaging 133 rushing yards per game, leading the conference and ranking 8th nationally. Impressive freshman DeMaundray Woolridge is averaging 85 yards per game and has back to back 100 yard games, the first true freshman to ever do it for the Cougs.

Against Oregon State, the Cougs will go with basically the same depth chart they've used for the first three games. Along with Eric Frampton at strong safety, Husain Abdullah and DeWayne Patterson will rotate heavily at safety. At cornerback, Wally Dada went out with injury Saturday, possibly opening the door for a start against the Beavs by Don Turner…Scout team awards have gone out to lineman [/db]Derek Hunter[/db] on offense and redshirting senior cornerback Tyron Brackenridge on defense. Both project to be in the depth for the 2006 season, and Brackenridge would have started this season but for academic issues.

After two games, Bill Doba and Mike Riley have split, 1-1. After the first four weeks of 2005 football, OSU is also even in the won-loss column but has been thumped two weeks in a row. The Beavs started the season by beating D-1AA Portland State 41-14, came from behind at home to beat Boise State 30-27, tripped to Louisville and were thrashed 63-27, then came home to be handled by Arizona State 42-24….OSU captains for the year are former Cougar commit Trent Bray, LB Keith Ellison, and very dangerous receiver Mike Hass.

The OSU passing defense has been struggling on the season, giving up 303.75 yards per game, putting them last in the conference and 112th in D-1A football. That presents an interesting situation as Cougar quarterback Alex Brink has finished the first three games with a 166.66 pass efficiency rating averaging 235.33 yards per game. That lands Brink 11th in D-1A. Thus far Brink has 690 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 picks…The Cougar defense will have to find a way to deal with OSU's Mike Hass. Hass walked-on as a Beav before earning a scholarship and is a living example of how recruiting is a numbers game. After getting overlooked out of high school, this season Hass is averaging 10 receptions a game – placing him 2nd nationally – and is averaging 167.5 yards per game which leads D-1A schools…Although the Beavs have a strong passing game, the OSU running attack has struggled. OSU is averaging only 86.5 yards per game, last in the conference and 104th in D-1A. WSU has been playing well against the run through the non-conference schedule.