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Jackson, Beavers run all over Bears

By Andrew Hinkleman
Monday October 28, 2002

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Steven Jackson rushed for a career-high 239 yards and three touchdowns to revive a sputtering offense, helping Oregon State end a three-game losing streak Saturday with a 24-13 victory over California. 

Jackson dominated the first half, scoring all three Beavers touchdowns to go along with 168 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Derek Anderson continued to struggle, going 8-of-24 for 80 yards with no touchdowns. 

Kyle Boller was 27-of-51 for 284 yards, moving into third place on the Golden Bears’ career passing list with 7,281 yards. Joe Igber led a punchless California running game with 33 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. The Bears (5-4, 2-3 Pac-10) netted just 16 yards rushing. 

After two lackluster three-and-out possessions to start the game, Oregon State (5-3, 1-3) started to click offensively when Anderson converted a third-and-9 from his 9 with a 15-yard pass to Kenny Farley. 

Then Jackson took over, picking 11, 11, 42 and 7 yards on consecutive plays to score the Beavers’ first touchdown. For the game, Oregon State gained 301 yards on the ground. 

Cal answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive to retake the lead in the second quarter, capped by Igber’s 1-yard plunge and helped by a 47-yard pass to Lashaun Ward and a 20-yarder to Tom Swoboda. 

Ward led the Bears with four catches for 81 yards, plus another 112 on kickoff returns. Swoboda had seven receptions for 77 yards. 

Both teams traded drives ending in punts when the Beavers struck again, this time with a four-play, 82-yard drive in just more than a minute, highlighted by backup running back Dwight Wright’s 47-yard scamper straight up the middle and an 18 yard reverse for receiver Kenny Farley. 

On the Bears’ ensuing possession, linebacker Nick Barnett forced Boller to fumble and Noah Happe recovered for Oregon State. 

Jackson again dominated, running the ball on four consecutive plays, including a 32-yard pickup, setting up goal-to-go. 

A pass interference penalty on third down gave the Beavers another chance, and Jackson took it in from 4 yards out for his third score of the half. 

The teams traded field goals in the second half as both offenses fizzled. Oregon State managed just 92 yards in the final two quarters while the Bears picked up 94. 

Still, the Beavers had to be pleased with the first half. 

The embattled offensive line – where left guard Mike Kuykendall had to move to left tackle following injuries to the first and second stringers, and untested David Lose took over at left guard – opened gaping holes for Jackson and provided adequate protection for Anderson, who has been battered the last three games. 

Anderson was sacked once. Boller went down four times.