2008 Woodie Awards
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Ducks roll over Huskies 44-10
Oregon wins fifth straight over Washington to open 2008 season
by Andrew Greif | Sports Editor |
When it comes to scoring points, No. 21 Oregon doesn't wait for anybody.
Washington included.
The Ducks scored on five drives of two minutes or less en route to a 44-10 win over rival Washington, their fifth in a row over the Huskies, Saturday night at Autzen Stadium to kick off the 2008 season. All seven of Oregon's scores came in under three minutes.
"I'm sort of surprised when we don't score quickly," Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "Obviously this team will establish its own personality, but they showed that they have that explosiveness."
Behind a balanced attack of 277 rushing yards and 240 through the air, Oregon scored 30 unanswered points in the second half, even without starting quarterback Justin Roper, who left with a concussion in the first half. Roper was replaced with junior college transfer Jeremiah Masoli and freshman Chris Harper, both of whom showed why Oregon coaches wanted to get them on the field by combining for three touchdowns.
In the opposing huddle, Washington sophomore signal-caller Jake Locker was able to convert on several third downs throughout the game for the Huskies, but was hurried into three sacks and a 43 percent completion percentage, throwing for only 103 yards.
"We didn't play as well as we can," Locker said. "We're not a team that can just come out and win without trying. No one in this league is a pushover."
Appropriately, Oregon started its scoring quickly in the first quarter as senior running back Jeremiah Johnson, 10 months removed from tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run a play after bolting 44 yards down the right hash mark on Oregon's first possession. The drive took a scant 1 minute, 24 seconds to travel 63 yards. After two stalled drives by Washington and another by the Ducks, Roper found Terrence Scott on a slant for a 60-yard touchdown.
Roper would finish with 114 yards passing, completing seven of his 11 attempts before suffering the concussion. Head coach Mike Bellotti said trainers expect Roper to return for practice next week in time for next Saturday's game against Utah State at home.
Washington included.
The Ducks scored on five drives of two minutes or less en route to a 44-10 win over rival Washington, their fifth in a row over the Huskies, Saturday night at Autzen Stadium to kick off the 2008 season. All seven of Oregon's scores came in under three minutes.
"I'm sort of surprised when we don't score quickly," Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "Obviously this team will establish its own personality, but they showed that they have that explosiveness."
Behind a balanced attack of 277 rushing yards and 240 through the air, Oregon scored 30 unanswered points in the second half, even without starting quarterback Justin Roper, who left with a concussion in the first half. Roper was replaced with junior college transfer Jeremiah Masoli and freshman Chris Harper, both of whom showed why Oregon coaches wanted to get them on the field by combining for three touchdowns.
In the opposing huddle, Washington sophomore signal-caller Jake Locker was able to convert on several third downs throughout the game for the Huskies, but was hurried into three sacks and a 43 percent completion percentage, throwing for only 103 yards.
"We didn't play as well as we can," Locker said. "We're not a team that can just come out and win without trying. No one in this league is a pushover."
Appropriately, Oregon started its scoring quickly in the first quarter as senior running back Jeremiah Johnson, 10 months removed from tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run a play after bolting 44 yards down the right hash mark on Oregon's first possession. The drive took a scant 1 minute, 24 seconds to travel 63 yards. After two stalled drives by Washington and another by the Ducks, Roper found Terrence Scott on a slant for a 60-yard touchdown.
Roper would finish with 114 yards passing, completing seven of his 11 attempts before suffering the concussion. Head coach Mike Bellotti said trainers expect Roper to return for practice next week in time for next Saturday's game against Utah State at home.
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