Undefeated versus defeated.
Yawn. Stretch. Snooze. Right?
Not so, say the fifth-ranked Oregon Ducks (5-0) as they prepare to play their third road game in as many weeks against California (0-4) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Stadium.
“I don’t think Cal has been given enough respect, so you can’t overlook them,” Oregon linebacker Wesly Mallard said. “If you look at the records of all the teams they’ve played, they only have one loss.”
Mallard has done his homework, as the Golden Bears’ four opponents (Illinois, Brigham Young, Washington State and Washington) have a combined 18-1 record. Cal will be well-rested for Oregon considering it hasn’t played since it nearly defeated the Huskies, 31-28, on Sept. 29.
Of course that means that last Saturday the Bears were glued to Oregon’s lopsided 63-28 victory at Arizona, and what they saw was a team on a mission.
“They’ve got a lot of momentum,” Cal head coach Tom Holmoe said. “They had a good win. I won’t say that I feel much more confident, but I think the extra week of preparation has helped.”
For the Ducks, the road win at Tucson has bolstered their confidence and shown them what is possible if everyone gets on the same page.
“We feel that Arizona really was our breakout game,” tailback Onterrio Smith said. “We had a good one against Utah State, but not near as good as the performance against Arizona. Cal will be looking for a ‘W’ so we know they’re going to come out and play us hard.
“We just have to take it to them.”
Both Smith and starting tailback Maurice Morris certainly took it to Arizona. For the first time since Oct. 15, 1994, the Ducks had two 100-yard rushers in a game. Morris and Smith almost accomplished the feat against Utah State, but Smith’s total was just short of triple-digits at 98. Smith led all rushers Saturday with 131 yards with Morris right behind him at 110.
That, combined with a receiving corps that is clicking with quarterback Joey Harrington, is displaying the type of Oregon offense that many people predicted would be the best in the Pacific-10 Conference.
“Our depth at tailback and receiver is starting to show,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “(Against Arizona,) we executed, we were able to keep them off balance, we were able to run the football and gave Joey great protection.”
On the defensive side, the Ducks forced five Arizona turnovers that were all turned into Oregon touchdowns, but the defense still gave up a few big plays that led to scores, including a 78-yard run by Clarence Farmer.
“We’re working on cutting down the mistakes, but I think we’re making up for it with the turnovers,” Mallard said. “Who knows what Cal will come at us with.”
Certainly, Cal offensive coordinator Al Borges, who is in his first year with the Bears after spending the previous five with UCLA, is respected for his smart game plans and ability to use his players effectively.
But Oregon players are confident that defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will combat Borges with a winnable strategy of his own.
As for Bellotti, he just wants the scoreboard to show who the better team is when it’s all said and done.
“I don’t care how many yards we get, and I don’t care how many yards our opponents get,” he said. “I want points. That’s what makes the difference.”