Beavers Outrun Cal, 35-21

When Coach Mike Riley took over at Oregon State this year, he told Steven Jackson he would get the ball 30 to 35 times a game, and Riley has kept his word.

Jackson rushed for 227 yards in 35 carries and scored three touchdowns as the Beavers defeated California on Saturday for the fifth straight time, 35-21, as both teams showcased their star running backs.

“He’s our thoroughbred workhorse,” Beaver linebacker Richard Siegler said.

Quarterback Derek Anderson, who has struggled on the road, completed 18 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon State (5-1, 2-0 Pac-10) controlled the clock to win its fourth in a row since a 16-14 loss at Fresno State.

The Beavers are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 1968.

“We got the edge for Steve all day, and he ran crazy,” Anderson said. “It feels good to get a road win like this. It’s big.”

The teams’ featured running backs put on a show at Memorial Stadium.

Cal’s defense hadn’t allowed a 200-yard rushing game since Jackson went for 239 against the Golden Bears last season.

Adimchinobe Echemandu had his third 100-yard game of the season for Cal and second in two weeks with 146 yards in 19 carries with two touchdowns -- but he was about all the Bears (3-4, 1-1) had in an unimpressive showing on offense.

Echemandu had 82 of Cal’s 98 first-half yards, including a 10-yard catch. Then, on Cal’s first offensive series of the second half, Echemandu gained 60 of his team’s 80 yards in a scoring drive that was capped by his two-yard touchdown run.

But Jackson answered right back with a 66-yard gain that led to an Oregon State score, his five-yard touchdown catch from Anderson, which gave the Beavers a 35-21 lead.