Beavers set to bank on Bernard.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Yvenson Bernard's career high for rushes in a game is 42. The Oregon State record is 50 carries, for 299 yards, by Bill Enyart in a 1968 game against Utah.

Could OSU's senior tailback be in for such a heavy workload tonight when the Beavers open the season against the Utes in Reser Stadium?

Not likely, but not to be discounted either.

With a pair of untested quarterbacks set to rotate by quarters for the Beavers, it will be the definite desire of OSU to ride Bernard as far as he and that veteran offensive line can carry the offense in this opening game.

`It takes a lot of pressure off the passing game,' acknowledged sophomore quarterback Sean Canfield, who will make his first collegiate start and then be relieved in the second quarter by fellow sophomore Lyle Moevao, who said the biggest crowd he's ever played in front of was `about 2,000' while in high school.

The Beavers expect 40,000 tonight, for a first look at this 111th version of OSU football, and a view of the Pac-10's largest videoboard sitting high behind the south end zone, where enough seats have also been added to raise capacity in Reser Stadium to 45,674.

If most eyes of those in attendance, and an audience at home watching the FSN regional telecast, are going to be on one or the other of OSU's quarterbacks, Utah will center its defense's attention on Bernard.

He has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in each of the last two seasons and over his last 21 games has scored 22 touchdowns while averaging 114.9 yards.

`He's the key,' Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. `We've got to keep him from going crazy on us. If he goes for over 100 yards, our chances are not good.

`If we don't stop the run, they'll never throw the ball.'

Again, not likely.

The Beavers are preaching offensive balance.

`We have a proven commodity in running the football, but we can't be one-dimensional,' OSU coach Mike Riley said.

Utah's rebuilt secondary includes two converted receivers in the starting foursome. That's an inviting target, except the Utes often switch to their `nickel,' with five defensive backs in the game.

And then they'll switch back. And then do something entirely different.

Riley expects the front seven to be in a 4-3 one series, a 3-4 alignment the next. The coach said he watched the video of two Utah games from last season, and never saw the coverage scheme that an assistant said was primarily used by the Utes in two other games.

`It's crazy,' Moevao said. `They have so many different defenses, it's going to be tough for me and Sean to go out there and know what defense they're running.'

Oops. That's not exactly reassuring to the head coach, but it might be reality.

The Beavers are going to have to accept that there will be plays where the OSU quarterback looks inexperienced, no matter which is in the game.

Still, Riley is set on giving both of them a test tonight, and expects positive results.

`I don't see why they both can't play well in this game,' Riley said.

`I have noticed a kind of growing confidence in both of them (as the game neared).

`They've gotten ready to go separately and they're doing a nice job. I like what I see and I sense that they can and will both play well.'

Not that it won't help to have a big night out of Bernard, who said he doesn't feel any extra burden to carry the offense until those quarterbacks settle in.

`I'll treat it the same way,' Bernard said, forecasting his total carries tonight will be `20 or 30, probably.'

And if it is more?

`I'm ready,' he answered. `It was probably my best offseason (of preparation) ever.

"I'm feeling great.'

O S U f o o t b a l l

UTAH AT OREGON STATE

7 p.m. today, Reser Stadium, Corvallis. TV: FSN. Radio: KKNX-AM (840). More OSU football coverage at www.registerguard.com/blogs

Chris Pietsch / The Register-Guard