Nov. 6, 1999

Final Stats

By LANDON HALL
Associated Press Writer

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Roddy Tompkins caught a 41-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, and Oregon State returned a fumble for another score Saturday night to seal the Beavers' first winning season in 29 years with a 17-7 victory over California.

The comeback win helped the Beavers (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) break their NCAA Division I-record streak that began with the 1971 season and endured through the generations, making Oregon State synonymous with college football mediocrity.

The victory, which also made Oregon State eligible for its first bowl game since the 1965 Rose Bowl, was anything but certain against Cal (4-5, 3-3).

The Beavers, who came in third in the nation in total offense at nearly 488 yards a game, gained just 147 first-half yards against Cal's hard-hitting defense, and the score looked like it might hold up.

But Oregon State, under its new coach Dennis Erickson, got a huge break late in the third quarter when Darnell Robinson intercepted a pass that deflected off two players.

On the next play, Oregon State's Jonathan Smith found a wide-open Tompkins, who beat cornerback LaShaun Ward and tiptoed into the end zone to put the Beavers ahead 10-7 with 14:53 to play.

Two possessions later, Boller fumbled the snap, and blitzing linebacker Tevita Moala picked up the ball and ran 24 yards for the clinching touchdown with 9:41 to go.

Cal, ranked 106th in the nation in total offense at 261 yards a game, didn't get much going after an 83-yard touchdown from Kyle Boller to Drae Harris late in the first quarter.

The Beavers got a safety when Cal tight end Brian Surgener was flagged for holding in the end zone with nine minutes left before halftime.