IT'S GAME DAY! Arizona (2-3) @ Oregon State (2-3)

The game can be heard live in the Salem-area on 1490 KBZY AM, and in the Portland-metro area on 860 KPAM AM.

Yvenson Bernard had a career-high 194 yards rushing in the 2005 victory at Memorial Stadium. Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Arizona Wildcats come calling to Corvallis today in a Pac-10 showdown with the Beavers, who are winless so far in Pac-10 play. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard live in the Salem-area on 1490 KBZY AM, and in the Portland-metro area on 860 KPAM AM.

Arizona and Oregon State enter the game attempting to even its overall record as both teams are 2-3.

The Beavers were in a similar situation last year after five games before rallying for one of the program’s best years ever.

The Wildcats are in the midst of their toughest part of the schedule playing three of four games on the road starting Saturday in Corvallis, followed a week later at No. 1 USC.

Arizona leads the overall series 20-9-1, but Oregon State has won seven of the last eight.

The Beavers edged the Wildcats 17-10 last season for the program’s third consecutive win at Arizona Stadium.

The Wildcats came back from a 14-0 first quarter deficit and were driving at the end of the game when QB Kris Heavner was intercepted by Daniel Drayton at the Beaver 2-yard-line on the final play.

Arizona won a bizarre game at Corvallis in 2005, 29-27.

The Beavers rolled up 654 yards of total offense, tied for the fifth most in school history and the second-highest figure vs. a Pac-10 opponent, but turned the ball over seven times.

The ‘05 game also marked the first career start of Arizona QB Willie Tuitama.

One of the most decorated football teams in the history of Oregon State is holding its 40th reunion during the weekend.

The “Giant Killers” of 1967 posted a 7-2-1 record with victories over No. 1 USC, No. 2 Purdue and then tied the new No. 2 UCLA.

Oregon State’s 3-0 win over O.J. Simpson led USC was the Trojans only loss of the year on their way to a national title.

Oregon State has outscored its opponents 54-3 in the first quarter this season and over the last 14 games has a margin of 134-27. On the down side, the Beavers have been outscored 52-27 in the fourth quarter, including 45-6 over the last two games.

Oregon State enters this week’s action third in the nation and first in the Pac-10 Conference for rush defense, allowing 50.2 yards per game -- LSU is first at 39.0 and Boston College is second at 46.8.

A big part of the statistic is OSU is tied for tenth in the nation for quarterback sacks with 17 and sixth for yardage lost via the sack with 131 yards. OSU is also sixth in the nation for accumulated yardage for tackles-for-loss with 204.

Opponents have had a short field on several scoring drives this season. To be exact, opponents have scored 72 points or 53 percent of the total 135 points when starting at midfield or in OSU territory. The stat does not factor in another seven points that Cincinnati scored on a blocked punt.

In comparison, OSU’s offense has scored 34 points or 25 percent of its total when starting at the opponents’ 50-yard line or deeper.

Source: OSU Athletics

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