It was going to be a great matchup between two of the top tight ends in the country.

But now there is no question BYU senior Dennis Pitta (Moorpark) will be the best tight end on the field tomorrow night when the Cougars take on mighty Oklahoma at the newly-built Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

The Sooners were dealt a blow yesterday when TE Jermaine Gresham was ruled unable to play because of a knee injury. Gresham was reigning Heisman-winning QB Sam Bradford's top target.

But it will be Pitta's chance to shine while catching passes from his brother-in-law BYU QB Max Hall.

"I don't think a whole lot of people outside of our program expect us to win that game," Pitta said. "So, it's kind of a good feeling going in as an underdog, having a lot to prove, kind of having a chip on our shoulder, and being able to play loose and relaxed because nobody really picked us to win. We understand that this is a big game for us and we respect Oklahoma and understand that they are a very good football team. But being able to beat a team like that would really set things up for us this season."

Pitta's story continues to amaze and give hope to overlooked recruits as he has gone from a grayshirt freshman to a potential NFL draft pick.

Here's what local products were saying yesterday about their upcoming college football games this Saturday.

- Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter (Westlake) spent the bye week in Tempe following the Sun Devils' loss to Georgia studying film of the their upcoming opponent Cal.
"I'm kind of going to start all over again with the film process and re-watch everything," Carpenter told the Arizona Republic. "This is a huge game for us. Georgia was a big game, but in the grand scheme of things it's not a Pac-10 game."

- USC senior Clay Matthews (Agoura) will be in the starting lineup on Saturday against Oregon. The former walk-on will either start at linebacker or defensive end depending on the injury status middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.
"He's just been too effective to keep him on the sideline," USC head coach Pete Carroll told reporters.

- Brigham Young University tight end Dennis Pitta (Moorpark) missed bye week practices last week with a sore shoulder, but should be back on the field against Utah State on Saturday. The potential BCS-busting Cougars moved up to No. 7 in the USA Today/Coaches' Poll, No. 8 in the Associated Press rankings and No. 9 in the Harris poll.
"I feel good," Pitta told the Salt Lake Tribune. "I will be practicing all this week. I just got a little banged up here and there in the game against Wyoming, so the bye week was a good time for me to rest up and try to get my legs back under me."

- Following Oregon State's upset victory over then top-ranked USC, Greg Newman (Thousand Oaks) and his Utah teammates are anxious to get the Beavers in Salt Lake City and continue the Mountain West supremacy over the Pac-10 Conference this season.
"This is what the game of football is all about for me and why I play," Newman told the Tribune. "It's going to be a whole lot of fun and I can't wait to get out there."

Even though they have graduated to the bigger time, players never forget their high school days.

UCLA center Micah Reed is keeping a close eye on the debut of Nordhoff head coach Tony Henney

"I am excited. He coached me in Pop Warner and for one year at Nordhoff," Reed said. "When he got the head job, I was really stoked because we hang out a lot and are really good friends."

Reed is also tracking the Buena High coaching debut of the man who built Nordhoff football -- Cliff Farrar.

"It's a little weird, but I think it will be good for him because you can really see what he can do with some athletes," Reed said. "At Nordhoff, it's always been blue-collar guys who just work hard and he has done well with them."

BYU junior tight end Dennis Pitta, who leads the nation in receiving yards per game, needed to know one last thing before ending a recent phone interview

"How does Moorpark look this season?" asked Pitta, in reference to his alma mater. "How do you think they will do in the Marmonte League?"

Pitta also wanted a message relayed, "Tell Coach (Tim) Lins I said hello."

-- Star teammate Rhiannon Potkey in Westwood

(FYI Dennis, I covered Moorpark's opening win against Mayfair and they looked excellent. They've got two great weapons in RB Austin Edmonson and WR Tim Vizzi ahead of one of the county's best offensive lines and the usual stout Musketeer defense. They looked like one of the Marmonte League contenders. -- Joe Curley)