Injury-riddled

has its worst record – 1-5 – in 15 years in a so-far lost season, but coach Mike Riley said he couldn’t find a single player with a “woe is me’’ attitude when he took roll call on Sunday.

“I actually believe, after meeting with them a short time ago, that they will be ready to go on Tuesday,’’ said Riley. “I was very encouraged by the team meeting, and frankly, I don’t think I’m reading it wrong. … I think we have a really solid group of seniors and all the young guys will take their lead. I think we’ll be fine.’’

The Beavers, who are 1-2 in

play, were re-grouping after a mistake-filled 38-28 loss to BYU in which OSU amazingly had five players on defense go down with injuries and a sixth – reserve linebacker Shaydon Akuna – came away with a concussion.

The biggest blow is the loss of run-stuffing 6-foot-3, 334-pound defensive tackle Castro Masaniai to a broken fibula.

Masaniai, said Riley, “is probably out for the year.’’

Which doesn’t bode well for the Beavers’ ability to stop Washington State (3-3, 1-2) from running the ball when the two teams meet Saturday night at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

“Other guys are going to have to carry more of a burden,’’ said Riley, mentioning interior linemen Kevin Frahm, Andrew Seumalo, and Ben Motter.

Middle linebacker Feti Unga, who has been among the Pac-12 tackles leaders all season, might be facing some down time. Unga (calf muscle) had an MRI Sunday, and the team is awaiting the results.

Middle linebacker Tony Wilson has a hip contusion, outside linebacker Cameron Collins a groin issue, and Taylor Henry has a bruised shoulder. None of the three has been ruled out for the WSU game.

Riley said the safety position is wobbly, too, with Lance Mitchell facing his usual abdominal/groin pains, plus Anthony Watkins and Ryan Murphy both have shoulder injuries – which may push Josh LaGrone and Tyrequek Zimmerman into more prominent roles.

Riley got questions Sunday about lineup changes – he said none were planned – and even schematic changes. It was suggested that maybe defensive coordinator Mark Banker should switch to a 3-4 instead of a 4-3 and Riley politely said that isn’t going to happen given the loss of Masaniai and OSU’s shortage of healthy linebackers.

Riley said the injuries shouldn’t be used as an excuse. “When somebody goes down, somebody has to step up and play,’’ he said.

No one is happy that Oregon State is suffering through its worst season since the Beavers went 2-9 in 1996, the final year for former coach Jerry Pettibone.

Riley said he can understand fans being frustrated with what is happening on the field – OSU has lost 7 out of its last 8 games and 9 out of its last 11 going back to last season – but Riley can’t understand fans being frustrated to the point where they would “key’’ a players’ car and leave a nasty anonymous note on the windshield.

It happened to Beavers’ cornerback Jordan Poyer, who made four tackles in the game, broke up two passes, and returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown in the first half.

Riley and Poyer were both upset. It isn’t known if the person who scratched Poyer’s car was a student.

Poyer noted on Twitter Sunday, “To whoever keyed my car last night saying ‘(bleep) you win a game’ I hope you’re feeling better about yourself.’’

“It’s hard to explain behavior like that,’’ said Riley.

“That’s the world out there. It always amazes me, but it doesn’t surprise me.’’

Notes:

WSU only trailed No. 7 Stanford 10-7 at halftime Saturday in the Palouse. Final score, Stanford 44, Cougars 10. Stanford is good. ... out of 120 FBS teams, the Beavers are 112th in pass efficiency defense, 111th in tackles for loss, 107th in rushing yards per game (101.83) and 96th in turnover margin. Riley said the turnover issue – OSU had four against BYU, including two fumbles and a red-zone interception – explains a lot. “It’s really troubling. Kind of an indication of our record, probably. We’ve never been a fumbling team. We’ve led the nation in least amount of fumbles. It’s something we’ve got to keep emphasizing. We’ve got new (running backs) this year.’’ … the news that Jeff Tuel is back at quarterback for WSU after recovering from a broken collarbone is probably not good news for OSU. Taking away lost yards for sacks, Tuel out-gained Jacquizz Rodgers 103-93 last season when the Cougars stunned the Beavers 31-14 last Nov. 13 in Corvallis. … that was the afternoon the Beavers probably hit rock-bottom: they were 23 ½ point favorites against a Cougars’ team that had lost 16 Pac-10 games in a row but they flat-lined emotionally. “They beat us soundly last year,’’ said Riley. “For some guys on the team, it should be (motivation).’’ … Riley said tailback Malcolm Agnew, who played for the first time since Sept. 3 and gained 49 yards on 10 carries, made it through the game in good shape and so far looks good for WSU. Agnew’s return did not solve the Beavers’ issues with running the ball, however. BYU out-rushed OSU 282-59.

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Paul Buker