OSU notebook

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Mid-Valley Sports

SEATTLE — Senior free safety Mitch Meeuwsen has been looking forward to this day all season.

He needed to wait six games to finally break the OSU career record for interceptions. It occurred Saturday in a 29-14 victory over Washington as he picked off two passes.

His 16 career interceptions surpassed Dan Espalin's mark of 15 set from 1962-64.

"I knew how many I needed, and it was nice to get it, finally," Meeuwsen said. "It was just nice to get the win."

Meeuwsen should have broken the record with a third-quarter pick that he ran into the end zone.

However, he was flagged for a questionable, late pass interference call.

The pass was thrown behind receiver Derrick Johnson, and Meeuwsen bumped Johnson as the ball floated into his arms.

"I knew it was going to be close because we made contact, but we were both going for the ball," Meeuwsen said. "It was a bang-bang play. I heard it came out late, so there's nothing I can do about it."

Meeuwsen's record-breaker came on Washington's final drive. He ended with an interception in the end zone.

The injuries mount

Washington continues to lose players with season-ending injuries. Starting defensive tackle Dan Milsten was the fifth. He was carried out of the game on OSU's second possession.

The sophomore broke his left leg as he pursued a running play. Offensive guard Josh Linehan cut him from behind to cause the injury.

"That one is tough and a big loss," Washington coach Keith Gilbertson said. "I feel sick for the kids. They are great kids to coach. It's the downside of the game for both players and coaches."

OSU, however, left the game injury free. Receiver Mike Hass was hit hard in the ribs, but he said he's not hurt. Strong safety Sabby Piscitelli dinged is leg twice, but only stepped off the field for short breathers.

No Newton

Starting tight end Joe Newton made the trip, but didn't suit up for the game. He's still recovering from a sprained left shoulder from the Oct. 2 California game.

Senior Pat Loney started at tight end for the first time in his career, but shared the duties with junior Dan Haines. Loney caught one pass for four yards, while Haines pulled in three balls for 14 yards.

Coaching connections

• Cornerbacks coach Nigel Burton played safety for three years at Washington from 1986-88. He transferred there after the University of Pacific dropped its football program in 1995. Burton ended up as a team captain and District 8 Academic All-American as a senior.

• Linebackers coach Charlie Camp, Washington's tight ends coach Scott Pelluer and offensive line coach Charlie Dickey worked together for Arizona in 2002.

• Camp was also Idaho's defensive ends and outside linebackers coach under head coach Chris Tormey, who is Washington's linebackers coach.

• Administrative assistant Taylor Barton was a two-year letterman at quarterback for the Huskies from 2001-02.

No grudge

Coach Mike Riley didn't hold a grudge when hiring Burton, who cost the Beavers a winning record during Riley's second year at the helm in 1998.

He was playing cornerback for Washington and deflected a Jonathan Smith two-point conversion pass on the last play of the game. The Huskies won 35-34 and the Beavers finished the season 5-6.

Quick hits

• The Beavers allowed a blocked punt for the first time this season in the second quarter, giving up the ball on their own 19-yard line. The defense kept the Huskies out of the end zone, though.

• Dwight Wright's third-quarter scoring run was the first touchdown allowed by the Huskies in nearly eight quarters.