The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sam Leinen

Winner of four conference games in a row for the first time in six years, the OSU football team will try to keep its strong momentum going with a showdown in Pasadena this weekend against UCLA.

Oregon State (6-3, 4-2 Pacific-10) is coming off a convincing 44-10 win against Arizona State (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10) last weekend at Reser Stadium that saw Matt Moore continue to shine. The senior quarterback has been one of the key figures in the team's resurgence the past four games. During the team's winning streak, Moore has completed 65 percent of his passes and has totaled over 1,000 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Moore has also shown the ability to be an impact in the Beavers' running game. In last week's victory over the Sun Devils, Moore ran for 44 yards and a score, which was the third straight week he had scored a rushing touchdown.

After receiving criticism from fans for a lack of offensive production against California and Washington State, Moore has shown in the last month that he is the starting quarterback for the Beavers, according to head coach Mike Riley.

"I think that Matt just kept working, and that's the one thing that happened," Riley said. "It took awhile to get some chemistry going, but he is continuing to grow in this offense. Plus, I think you have to factor in this year that there were some new faces in the offense."

And despite his recent performances, Moore is not letting the positive reactions from fans and media get to him. The focus on this week and continuing to win games is what's important.

"Coach Riley and I know kind of how things are. I know how it is if you say something good or bad, so I don't take it either way," Moore said. "But it is a little weird, especially with a lot of people that are here."

Moore, who transferred to Oregon State from UCLA two years ago, was the subject of talk last season when the Beavers traveled to Pasadena. But Moore insisted this week that all the talk of returning to UCLA is behind him.

"In all honesty, over the last year, people made such a big deal because there were so many guys still there that I played with," Moore said. "I can't name seven guys on that team now that I played with. So it's not anything anymore, and the whole heart feel, that's over."

Continued...

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