OSU notebook

By Brooks Hatch
Staff writer

CORVALLIS — Senior slotback Ken Farley had only one catch in Oregon State's 26-24 victory over Boise State on Saturday.

It might have been the play of the game.

The Beavers were pinned on their 11-yard line, facing a third-and-19, when quarterback Derek Anderson zipped a 26-yard bullet to Farley. The resulting first down enabled the Beavers to maintain possession, and they made two more third downs and a fourth down to keep the potent Bronco offense, and dangerous punt returner Tim Gilligan, pawing at the Astroturf in frustration on the sidelines.

"We were kind of backed up a little bit. We ran a little play-action and Kenny made a great catch," Anderson said. "I threw it right over (a defender's) shoulder and he didn't see it.

"I think that was one of the bigger catches tonight."

Added flanker Mike Hass: "We knew what we had to do. We were only ahead by two points, and we knew we couldn't give them a field goal. We had to get some yards and get down the field, so that if we did have to punt they'd be backed up in their own territory.

"That's a big third-down play. That's probably the play of the game, in my mind."

Anderson also connected for a season-best six passes to the tight ends. Five went to Tim Euhus for 89 yards; the other was a 40-yarder to Joe Newton for his first career TD.

JACKSON UPDATE: Tailback Steven Jackson rushed for at least 100 yards (30 carries, 122 yards) for the ninth consecutive regular-season game. He passed Dave Schilling for second place on the career rushing list with 2,625 yards, and his 26th rushing TD moved him past Bill Enyart into second place behind Ken Simonton (59).

RECORD SET: Split end James Newson's nine receptions for a lifetime-best 209 yards enabled him to break the school record for career receptions. He now has 156, three more than ex-tight end Phil Ross had from 1985-89.

"We worked together all summer, and I know what he's going to do and what he's capable of," Anderson said. "He tells me, ‘Put it out there and I'll make a play for you.' I kept throwing it out there and he went up and got them and had a great game."

STREAK ENDS: Place-kicker Kirk Yliniemi tied the school record of four field goals held by himself and several others, but his streak of consecutive makes ended when he pushed a 43-yarder to the left with 32 seconds remaining in the first half.

Yliniemi had not missed since shanking his opening attempt of the 2002 season at Temple. He did hit a career-best 51-yarder in the first quarter and is now 24-for-27 (.889) lifetime on field goals.

MORE STREAKS: The capacity crowd of 35,963 advanced OSU's streak of home consecutive sellouts to 19. Next Saturday's game with Arizona State and the Oct. 18 Washington contest are also sold out.

It was also the Beavers' 17th consecutive non-league home victory, and the Broncos' first road loss since a 41-14 setback at Arkansas last Sept. 7. That was also their last defeat prior to the 13-game winning streak that ended Saturday.