HIGHS AND LOWS

High point of the game

For the first time this season, Washington State outscored a BCS team in a quarter. Yes, WSU won the second quarter Saturday night 13-3 over the Beavers. Two interceptions made it possible — one each from Myron Beck, leading to Chantz Staden’s 1-yard run, and Louis Bland. It’s Bland’s pick, and ensuing 16-yard sprint to the end zone, that earns the award. OSU quarterback Lyle Moevao, under pressure from a blitzing Greg Trent, tried to hit Jacquizz Rodgers in the flat. Bland, a freshman, was there waiting. He made the steal and outran Rodgers for the score.

Low point of the game

The Cougars’ last possession of the long night petered out at the OSU 42-yard line with two minutes remaining. With Dan Wagner at quarterback, WSU had an eight-play drive with no passes. The game was, in reality if not in fact, over. But when OSU took over on its 13 after Reid Forrest’s punt, the Beavers decided they hadn’t scored enough. Sean Canfield, who was OSU’s starting quarterback a year ago until sidelined by an injury, dropped back on first down and tried to hit Aaron Nichols with a pass. It fell incomplete. Unlike his 39-yard pass five minutes earlier that gave the Beavers its 53-point margin.

A pat on the back

Marcus Richmond started the season at running back, either fourth or fifth on the depth chart. But when injuries hit that position, the sophomore moved out wide, running patterns and learning a new spot. That lasted until last week, when the injury bug migrated to the running back position, claiming Dwight Tardy and Chris Ivory, the top two backs on the depth chart. Back goes Richmond, now third in line. As time ran out Saturday, he got the call eight times in relief. And he delivered 44 yards, including 18 on one run.

Needs fixing

The picture on the cover of the Salem Statesman Journal said it all. There’s Kevin Norrell, returning a first-quarter kickoff. There’s OSU’s Lance Mitchell, making the tackle. But there are two problems: Mitchell is wrenching Norrell’s head back by the facemask, and no penalty was called. Photos don’t miss, but Pac-10 officials often do. The conference needs to do something or situations like the two penalties called within a minute by line judge Manuel Alonzo will continue to occur. On a James Rodgers score, Alonzo flagged Tyrone Justin for a face mask, though it was Rodgers who grabbed Justin’s mask. Then, returning the favor, he called pass interference on OSU’s Cameron Collins, whom replays showed was not involved in what looked to be a clean play.

Three unanswered questions

• Who will play quarterback? With Marshall Lobbestael out, coach Paul Wulff thinks Kevin Lopina will be recovered enough from his back injury to start against USC. But is he sound enough to take the pounding? If not, either redshirt freshman Dan Wagner or true freshman J.T. Levenseller will have to run the offense against the Pac-10’s most intimidating defense.

• Who will play left tackle? The revolving door continued against OSU, with starter Vaughn Lesuma, playing only because Steven Ayers was injured, leaving with a shoulder injury. In came Will Hunter, with a hand in a cast. And finally, after Hunter struggled to keep rushers out, Joe Eppele moved in. In one of football’s most important positions, the Cougars don’t have a clear-cut starter.

• Who will play running back? With Tardy on the sidelines and Ivory in Pullman, Chantz Staden had most of the work. But he averaged 2.8 yards a carry and lost a fumble at what seemed to be a key time. Logwone Mitz spelled Staden and averaged 1.4 yards a carry. Richmond actually had the best average (5.5) but that came against OSU’s subs.

Vince Grippi, staff writer