Backup with No. 1 skills.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - It's early in the college football season, real early for the Beavers, who are just two games into a 13-game slate.

But it appears they have the best dang backup quarterback in the Pac-10 Conference.

Statistically, for sure.

Sean Canfield, a tanned, Southern California beach-type guy, has better numbers than his teammate, Oregon State starting quarterback Matt Moore, another Southern Californian.

In his two appearances, the southpaw Canfield has completed 69 percent of his passes - 18-of-26 - for 240 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Not bad for No. 2, whose numbers rank ninth among passers in the Pac-10, one notch ahead of Moore's 19-of-31 for 203 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

"Sean has performed well," said Mike Riley, the OSU coach whose team plays host to Idaho on Saturday night at Reser Stadium. "He's got a great arm, and his knowledge of the system and his decision-making are getting better and better."

But Canfield still is No. 2.

And the 6-foot-4, 222-pound redshirt freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., seems to be at peace with that. For now.

"It means everything to be the starting quarterback," he said after a midweek practice, "but I've got three years left and that puts everything in perspective."

Here's how:

Canfield will continue to improve.

Moore, a senior, will end his stay with the Beavers after the 2006 season.

And then, if the plan goes Canfield's way, the job will be his.

"I've just got to be patient," Canfield said. "I've also got to be ready. I could be one hit away from going in."

Thrilled to be taking a snap or two in any game after sitting out last season, Canfield's appearances this season have been directly related to Oregon State's situation.

"We've been either up big or down big," said Danny Langsdorf, the OSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, "but Sean has handled both situations he's been in."

Canfield rolled into OSU's season-opening game against Eastern Washington early in the second quarter. The Beavers were ahead 21-0 and Canfield promptly threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Wheat-Brown.

Early in the fourth quarter, Canfield threw a 67-yard scoring pass to Ruben Jackson. The Beavers won 56-17.

A week later, with Oregon State trailing at Boise State by 28 points in the fourth quarter, Canfield made an appearance that did not have an impact on the outcome. The Beavers lost 42-14.

"Every snap that Sean takes is that much more learning for him," Langsdorf said. "Everybody knows he's a beautiful thrower, but we want him to develop as a quarterback, not just a thrower."

Canfield has had to overcome occasional spells of indecision.

"He has been playing faster," Langsdorf said. "For a time in fall camp, he would hold the ball, hold the ball and get sacked. It's better to throw the ball away than take a sack.

"And Sean is getting better at that."

So how do the Beavers keep a backup happy? They don't.

"We hope they are not happy," Riley said. "Being a good guy and being a good team guy is one thing, but you don't want to be content with where you are.

"We want our quarterbacks to be anxious to play, to be ready to play. The happy backup quarterbacks are probably not the good ones."

Canfield insists he is "not in a big rush" to become Oregon State's starting quarterback. "Second is fine."

But the memories of his Carlsbad High career, his 376-of-654 passing for 5,165 yards and 42 touchdowns, are fresh.

"And being the starting quarterback is why we are out here," Canfield said.

Seemingly because it's been either feast or famine for Oregon State, there has been a little saber rattling within Beaver Nation about just who should be the team's starting quarterback.

But the Beavers' confidence in Canfield is piling up, and it appears that concerns about him entering a game no matter the circumstances are rapidly shrinking.

"I think we have a pretty good situation right now," Riley said.

OREGON STATE VS. IDAHO

7:15 p.m. Saturday at Reser Stadium. TV: FSN. Radio: KKNX-AM (840), KNND-AM (1400). In Spanish on KXOR-AM (660).