No. 16 Arizona Runs It Up

Kelvin Eafon had three short touchdown runs and Leon Callen ran for 107 yards and a score to lead No. 16 Arizona to a 28-7 victory over Oregon State.

Eafon rushed for 84 yards and Trung Canidate had 70 for the Wildcats, who piled up 228 yards rushing while holding Oregon State to only 21 in 24 carries.

“The offensive line promised me the other day that I was going to have a big day, and that the running game was going to get going,” said Eafon, who has 10 of Arizona’s 18 rushing touchdowns. “And they came through.”

Last week, Arizona (6-1 overall, 3-1 in the Pacific 10) had only 90 yards rushing in a 52-28 loss to UCLA, but the Wildcats ran away with this game after taking advantage of four Oregon State fumbles.

Oregon State (4-3, 1-3) lost two fumbles in the first half that were turned into touchdowns by Arizona. The Wildcats also recovered two third-quarter fumbles inside their 35.

Arizona led, 21-7, at the half on touchdown runs of one, four and two yards by Eafon. But the Wildcats came out flat in the third quarter, losing four yards in 11 plays on their first three possessions.

On second down from the Arizona 15, Beavers reserve quarterback Jonathan Smith was hit on a keeper by Mike Robertson, and Greg Payne recovered at the Wildcats 24 with 9:48 left in the quarter.

After Arizona punted, Smith completed a 26-yard pass to tight end Martin Maurer, but Scooter Sprotte popped the ball loose at the Wildcats 35, ruining another Oregon State scoring opportunity.

Callen secured the victory with a 36-yard touchdown with 8:18 to play.

“Stopping their run and being able to just move the ball on the ground like we did, that’s the thing that pleases me the most,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said.

Keith Smith completed 12 of 18 passes with an interception for Arizona, which won its sixth consecutive game over the Beavers and leads the series 19-2-1.

Arizona won its fifth road game in a row this season and has only one remaining, at California on Nov. 14.

“It’s so hard to win in college football, so you appreciate any victory,” Tomey said. “For this team to be 6-1 with five of those wins on the road is just something we feel really good about.”

Oregon State, which had started 4-2 for the first time since 1968, got its only touchdown late in the first half after Jonathan Smith came in for Terrance Bryant, who left because of back spasms after getting hit.

“We had a little momentum right off the bat,” Oregon State Coach Mike Riley said. “We run the ball, get a couple of first downs, get another good play and then fumble the ball. As the game went on, the fumbles and the turnovers gave them a short field.”