There aren't many degrees that separate the Oregon State and Hawai'i football programs.

OSU coach Mike Riley and UH coach June Jones grew up in Oregon at roughly the same time. Riley succeeded Jones as the San Diego Chargers' head coach in 1999.

Both programs appear to target the same prospects, even establishing recruiting bases in American Samoa.

There are 11 Hawai'i high school graduates on the Beavers' roster.

Several UH players — including slotback Davone Bess, and offensive linemen John Estes, Laupepa Letuli and Daniel Johnson — had opportunities to play for OSU.

Four members of the OSU coaching staff are former UH assistants.

OSU offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh had the most emotional departure, when he resigned in February 2005 after six seasons under Jones.

While Cavanaugh's resignation was initially difficult, the Warriors have recovered.

This season, the Warriors have relinquished 18 sacks in 541 pass plays, a ratio of 1 to 30.05. The Beavers have ceded 31 sacks in 385 pass plays, a ratio of 1 to 12.42.

Here's a closer look at tonight's game:

OREGON STATE OFFENSE

SE—19 Sammie Stroughter 6-0 188 Jr.

SB—82 Brandon Powers 6-2 215 Jr.

LT—61 Adam Koets 6-6 294 Sr.

LG—62 Jeremy Perry 6-2 313 So.

C—75 Kyle DeVan 6-2 294 Jr.

RG—67 Roy Schuening 6-4 318 Jr.

RT—66 Andy LeVitre 6-3 324 So.

TE—89 Joe Newton 6-7 256 Sr.

FL—2 Ruben Jackson 5-10 197 Sr.

QB—8 Matt Moore 6-4 193 Sr.

FB—33 Micah Strickland 6-0 229 Fr.

TB—26 Yvenson Bernard 5-9 204 Jr.

Outlook: Moore, who started his career at UCLA, has emerged as a popular figure on the Corvallis campus. Part of that has to do with his comfort in the offensive system, most has to do with OSU's victories over USC and Oregon. It was different at UCLA, where Moore became disenchanted after suffering an injury early in his sophomore season. "I didn't play a lot after that," Moore said. "I still felt I could play somewhere. I tried to find a better situation. (OSU) seemed like the right spot for me. It seemed to fit. It's been great for the past two years. I'm going to miss it here."

Moore hasn't missed much this season. He has thrown 144 consecutive passes without an interception, the longest active streak in Division I-A football. In the past seven games, he has completed 63 percent of his passes. Moore is effective off three types of play-action passes. He can run the bootleg; or fake a handoff and sprint to the edge; or throw out of the pocket following a fake draw. Stroughter averages 17.5 yards per catch.

Moore is helped by an offensive line that frequently changes protection schemes. Last week, UH hit the Purdue quarterbacks 16 times, mostly because the Boilermakers didn't vary their blocks. Right tackle Levitre is regarded as the best technician, and center DeVan is agile enough to be used as a pulling blocker. Perry, who signed and sealed but failed to deliver a letter of intent to UH, is OSU's most physical lineman.

Last year, Bernard bought himself a diamond stud for his 1,000-yard season. He will have to order a second one after rushing for 1,102 yards this season. HIs longest run is only 23 yards.

Moore and Bernard were drafted by major league baseball teams. Now their pro future is in football.

OREGON STATE DEFENSE

LE—27 Joe Lemma 6-3 257 Sr.

LT—97Ben Siegert 6-4 288 Sr.

RT—98 Curtis Coker 6-1 309 Jr.

RE—49 Jeff Van Orsow 6-4 266 Jr.

SLB—45 Derrick Doggett 6-3 210 Jr.

MLB—43 Alan Darlin 6-1 251 Jr.

WLB—42 Joey LaRocque 6-2 230 Jr.

LCB—6 Keenan Lewis 6-1 194 So.

SS—24 Sabby Piscitelli 6-3 225 Sr.

FS—23 Bryan Payton 6-2 211 So.

Or 9 Al Afalava 5-11 198 So.

RCB—36 Brandon Hughes 5-11 174 So.

Outlook: The Beavers have amassed 38 sacks, best among Pac-10 teams. Seventeen Beavers have sacks, led by backup defensive end Dorian Smith's six. The Beavers also have 90 backfield tackles, an average of 7.5 per game.

The defense's version of Moore is Piscitelli, who is fifth in the nation with 13 career interceptions. Piscitelli, who has covered USC's Steve Smith and California's speedy receivers, can run 40 yards in 4.48 seconds. Of his interceptions, Piscitelli said, "It starts in practice. You have to make plays on the ball in practice. Good practice habits carry over into the game." ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. rates Piscitelli as the No. 8 prospect at safety.

OREGON STATE SPECIALISTS

LS—55 Joel Cohen 5-11 249 Sr.

H—32 Jon Strowbridge 6-2 256 Jr.

PK—13 Alexis Serna 5-8 162 JR.

P—18 Kyle Loomis 6-2 195 Fr.

KR—4 Coye Francies 6-1 177 Jr.

KR—5 Gerard Lawson 5-11 190 Jr.

PR—19 Sammie Stroughter 6-0 189 Jr.

Outlook: Stroughter has three punt returns for touchdowns this season, including scoring returns in back-to-back games. He averages 15.4 yards per return.

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

LWO—84 Jason Rivers 6-2 192 Jr.

LSB—7 Davone Bess 5-10 195 So.

LT—70 Tala Esera 6-4 308 Sr.

LG—65 Hercules Satele 6=2 288 Jr.

C—64 Samson Satele 6-3 298 Sr.

RG—55 John Estes 6-2 290 Fr.

RT—72 Dane Uperesa 6-4 310 Sr.

RSB—1 Ryan Grice-Mullins 5-11 179 So.

RSB—82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 198 Sr.

RWO—3 Ian Sample 5-10 196 Sr.

QB—15 Colt Brennan 6-3 196 Jr.

RB—4 Nate Ilaoa 5-9 245 Sr.

RB—34 Reagan Mauia 5-11 280 Sr.

Outlook: Despite suffering from a bruised left heel, Ilaoa promises to be available to play. Brennan and Ilaoa have formed a prosperous partnership this season. Against Purdue, Brennan dodged pressure and threw a slip screen to Ilaoa. On the next play, Brennan rolled to his left and back-handed a pass between a linebacker and defensive end. Ilaoa caught the shovel pass and raced 15 yards. This season, Ilaoa has dropped only one pass overall and has caught all 32 shovel passes from Brennan. On shovel plays, Ilaoa has a yards-after-catch average of 18.1.

The coaches are praising Brennan's ability to "mid-stream adjust." Last week, Purdue tried to flex the pass rush, sending the defensive ends wide and into the lane between Brennan and the flats. Brennan adjusted, throwing wider — not higher — to Sample and the slotbacks on screens.

What's been a boost to the offense is the downfield blocking. Last week, the receivers staged a blocking competition. Rivers, who made the final block on Sample's winning touchdown play, was declared the winner. "Whenever you get a block, especially for the winning touchdown, it's as good as catching the winning touchdown pass," Rivers said.

The Warriors are allowed limited contact in practices. "But we know the basics," Rivers said of blocking. "You have to have a good base, and be ready to move your feet, to build a wall. You don't want to give (the defender) a choice. You don't let him decide where you're going to block. You have to make him move."

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

LE—98 Melila Purcell III 6-5 276 Sr.

NT—67 Michael Lafaele 6-0 302 Jr.

RE—91 Ikaika Alama-Francis 6-6 285 Jr.

LOLB—8 Tyson Kafentzis 6-1 230 So.

LILB—41 Solomon Elimimian 6-0 224 So.

RILB—44 Adam Leonard 6-0 230 So.

ROLB—26 Micah Lau 5-9 218 Jr.

LCB—23 Gerard Lewis 5-9 168 Jr.

FS—42 Leonard Peters 6-1 217 Sr.

SS—31 Jake Patek 6-0 190 Jr.

RCB—38 Myron Newberry 5-9 164 Jr.

Outlook: For the first few weeks of the season, the linebackers bought McDonald's meals for the defensive linemen. Now, they're splurging on pizza pies. "They know it all starts up front," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

Last week, the defensive line took control, holding Purdue to 3.3 yards per rush. Lafaele, who played a season-high 52 downs, led the way. He was credited with 12 hits (tackles or hits that led to tackles). Lafaele and Purdue's Kory Sheets, who was held to 39 yards on 12 carries, exchanged taunts during the game. After Lafaele chased down Sheets for a 4-yard gain, Lafaele said: "You must be really slow if I caught you."

The Warriors appear to have difficulty defending tight ends, and OSU's Joe Newton is 6 feet 7 and averages 12.4 yards per catch. This season, starting tight ends have caught 32 passes for 463 yards and eight touchdowns. But in the fourth quarter, the starting tight ends have eight catches for 65 yards — a decrease in productivity that could be traced in part to the cumulative effect of absorbing multiple hits from the Warriors.

HAWAI'I SPECIALISTS

LS—57 Jake Ingram 6-4 268 So.

H—11 Inoke Funaki 5-11 195 Fr.

PK/FG—86 Daniel Kelly 6-3 202 So.

PK/PAT—40 Briton Forester 5-9 171 Fr.

P—25 Kurt Milne 6-0 205 Sr.

KR—82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 198 Sr.

KR—89 Malcolm Lane 6-1 181 Fr.

PR—7 Davone Bess 5-10 195 So.

Outlook: Milne is on pace to set the UH record for fewest attempts in a season by a starting punter. Milne has 16 punts in 13 games. Eddie Davis attempted 28 punts in 1971.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.