Beavers place their focus on Arizona.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

TUCSON, Ariz. - If the Beavers are looking a week ahead, to playing No. 1-ranked USC on their home turf, they are not letting anyone know.

Most of the Beavers, anyway.

On the eve of today's Pac-10 Conference football game at Arizona, Oregon State, favored by a touchdown, seemed focused on one thing - Arizona.

Never mind that the 1-6 Wildcats (0-4 in the league) have lost six straight games, are 5-24 since winning back-to-back games to start the 2002 season and have won just two of their past 20 conference games.

And never mind that the Beavers have won two in a row for the first time this season to advance their overall record to 3-4 and Pac-10 mark to 2-2 - three wins in the remaining four regular-season games away from becoming bowl eligible.

"We're not even starting to take a step ahead," warned Derek Anderson, the OSU quarterback just 54 yards from surpassing Jonathan Smith's career school passing record of 9,680.

"When you do that, disasters happen."

The effort to avoid such a calamity begins at 4 p.m. The game is scheduled to be telecast live on the Beavers Sports Network (KVAL-TV in Eugene).

Oregon State defensive end Bill Swancutt said the first part of the Beavers' season "was humbling enough (losing three of the first four games). We have to take it week by week and game by game.

"We can't afford to overlook Arizona. We can't afford to overlook any team. We've got to go into every game like it was our last."

Ryan Cole, a tailback who recorded his first career touchdown and career-long run of 79 yards in last weekend's win over Washington State, admitted it was a clich<216> but ... "As boring as it may sound, you've got to take it one game at a time.

"We've got to respect Arizona," he said. "They are so desperate for a win."

True.

"A win (over Oregon State) would be huge," Arizona center Keoki Fraser told the Arizona Daily Star. "We're trying to turn this thing around."

Still, at least one OSU player - cornerback Aric Williams - confessed to taking an early peek at the Trojans, who play the Beavers at Reser Stadium in Corvallis next Saturday.

"It's hard not to get excited about that game," said Williams, probably unaware that the Beavers have defeated USC just once (in 2000) since the legendary 3-0 win in 1967.

"I know Arizona is important but ... ."

The Beavers, with consecutive wins over Washington and WSU, have something going, but that train could be - and has been - run off the tracks in Tucson.

Oregon State has played 12 times in Tucson and won once, 33-9 in 2000.

"Very, very big game," insisted Mike Riley, the OSU coach. "It can get us back to .500. This is a very important time of year."

How will they get back to .500?

"It's important we continue to strive to run the football," he said. "Everything goes better when you can run."

No argument from the runner.

"Each week we're trying to raise that (rushing) bar the best we can," said Cole, whose team has run for 271 yards in the past two games - more than it totaled in the previous four.

"And being able to run takes the pressure off Derek."

Arizona is last in the nation in scoring, with 84 points in seven games. The Wildcats are last in the Pac-10 in total offense and were shut out by California (38-0) a week ago, "though we've seen Arizona move the ball," Riley said.

But defensively, the OSU coach said, the Wildcats will challenge you.

"There are a couple of different ways they play base defense," he said, "but then they intermix a ton of zone blitzes.

"If we don't handle their defensive schemes well and get a feel for those zone blitzes, we can be in big trouble."

GAME FACTS

When: 4 p.m. PDT.

Where: Arizona Stadium (56,002), Tucson, Ariz.

Radio/TV: KKNX-AM (840), KCGR-FM (100.5)/Beaver Sports Network (KVAL).

Notes: Beavers have won two straight games, Wildcats have lost six in a row ... OSU has won five consecutive games over Arizona but is 1-11 against UA at Tucson ... Beaver opponents have gained 27 first downs via penalties ... It has been 25 months since Wildcats have recorded back-to-back wins ... Arizona leads series with OSU 19-7-1 ... Beaver QB Derek Anderson leads Pac-10 in passing with average of 284.7 yards ... OSU LB Trent Bray second in Pac-10 in tackles (78) and solo tackles (46) ... Oregon State CB Aric Williams leads Pac-10 in passes defended (eight breakups, four interceptions) ... OSU SE Mike Hass leads Pac-10 and fourth in nation in receiving yards (114 a game).