Following a 27-9 win over Stanford Saturday, Washington turns its focus to this week’s opponent — Oregon State.

Husky coach Tyrone Willingham called the Beavers a “tough, well coached football team. Defensively they’ve been one of the better teams we’ve played in my time here. They do a great job with their scheme of kind of forcing everything inside. It’s been a really difficult time to master their defense.”

OSU’s defense is certainly deserving of praise. Despite a 24-3 loss to USC last week, the Beavers are still the best in the Pac-10 against the run, allowing just 59.6 yards per game on the ground.

But that doesn’t mean anyone should overlook their offense.

“Offensively they have one of the best runners in the conference,” Willingham said of OSU tailback Yvenson Bernard. “Not only is he an excellent runner, but he’s a great leader. He adds so much emotionally that when he’s not there I think there’s a real void in that football team.”

Bernard has been hampered by injury lately and did not play against USC.

OSU coach Mike Riley said that he could return against the Huskies this week, however.

“[Bernard] may be back,” Riley said. “He looks good today. The progress he’s made has been good. He will start practicing tomorrow with no contact and we’ll see how that goes.”

OSU quarterback Sean Canfield is banged up as well, and his status is far more questionable than Bernard’s.

“Our quarterback I think is probably doubtful,” Riley said. “He’s getting further checkups today on his shoulder, but he was really sore yesterday and it would be hard to see him getting real close to being able to play this week.”

Chasing 1,000

Washington hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Rashaan Shehee accomplished the feat in 1997, but both quarterback Jake Locker and tailback Louis Rankin are on pace to break the mark this season. Locker has rushed for 791 yards, and Rankin’s 255-yard performance against Stanford bumped his season total to 793.

“Man, that’s exciting,” said center Juan Garcia, who gave Rankin a hug upon hearing the news that the running back had been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week. “Just to say that I blocked for a guy that got 1,000 yards, just to be on that o-line, that’s exciting.”

But what about blocking for two 1,000 yard rushers?

“Jake’s on his own,” Garcia said, laughing. “Ninety-nine percent of the yards Louis gets are his, and 1 percent is ours. Jake’s are 100 percent. He gets all the credit.”

Injury update

Willingham mentioned that the hit Locker took on his final touchdown against Stanford may have “taken a little air out of him,” but added that his starting quarterback is fine and in good health.

Nate Williams left the game with a hamstring injury, but his status remains unclear at this time.

Pepsi players of the week

Washington’s players of the week were Louis Rankin (offense), Greyson Gunheim (defense) and Jay Angotti (special teams). Scout team players of the week were Chris Izbicki (offense), Nick Wood (defense) and Cort Dennison (special teams).

[Reach reporter Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]