Corvallis, OR (U-WIRE) -- A season of high expectations and frustration for the Oregon State Beaver and Oregon Duck football teams will come to a head on Saturday at Reser Stadium.

Both teams have barely missed upsetting some of the top teams in the nation, and both need a win to qualify for a bowl game, but most of all -- the Civil War rivalry is one of the best in the nation.

"It means a lot because I'm from Oregon, probably more than it means for a lot of the other guys," said safety Mitch Meeuwsen. "Both sides pretty much hate each other."

The winner of Saturday's game will spend the holidays soaking up the sun in Phoenix, El Paso or San Diego. The loser will be planning for next season in rainy Corvallis or Eugene.

Despite the bowl implications, it kept coming back to the rivalry at Tuesday's football press conference.

"I think there's a genuine dislike of the other team," said linebacker Trent Bray. "I don't like them. We're trying to knock them out on every tackle."

Bray will be focusing his energy on Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens, who burned the Beavers last year, throwing three touchdown passes and scrambling all over the field.

It will take a better performance, especially by the Beavers' streaky secondary, if they hope to win.

Cornerback Aric Williams has every reason to turn in a career game as the senior says goodbye to football in Corvallis.

"I've been anticipating this game all season," Williams said.

"My mom's gonna be here for the first time, so I've got to do something special for her."

Williams isn't the only Beaver playing his last game at Reser this weekend. It will be the final goodbye for some of the most talented and successful players in OSU history.

Beaver fans' love-hate relationship with Derek Anderson will be played out for the final time at home.

"It is the last one, all my family and friends will be here; you know it's my final go as a Beaver," Anderson said.

Whether it's boos or cheers raining down from the stands on Saturday, Anderson is saying so long as OSU's all-time passing leader and owner of one of the most prolific careers in Pacific-10 history.

"He's the most prolific quarterback in the history of this school and it will be hard to break his records," said coach Mike Riley of Anderson. "Had he had a redshirt year, where he only threw 41 passes his freshman year, and not played that year, he would break every Pac-10 record that is notable by mid-year next year.

"This guy has had a tremendous career, and we at Oregon State should all be very, very thankful that he's been the quarterback."

Bill Swancutt is also playing his final game at Reser. The defensive end is already the OSU career sacks leader with 34, although his recent play suggests he could add to that total against the Ducks.

"It's my last game in Reser Stadium," Swancutt said. "It will certainly be emotional; I'm sure the game will come down to the wire."

A close game would seem a foregone conclusion in the Civil War rivalry.

The Beavers are currently four-point favorites, likely due to their home field advantage. The home team has won every game in the series since 1997.

No matter who goes to a bowl game or who is graduating, the yearly topic for the Civil War will remain the same.

This is a true college football rivalry, where each team simply wants to beat up on the other.

Wide receiver Mike Hass summed it all up in one short sentence:

"They don't like us, and we don't like them."

(C) 2004 OSU Daily Barometer via U-WIRE