TEMPE, Ariz. – How’s that for a statement game?
With talk nearly all week about validating its win against Oklahoma after two weeks of controversy, the then-No. 14 Oregon Ducks (4-0 overall, 2-0 Pac-10) responded with a 48-13 beating of Arizona State (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday – its biggest win ever in Tempe, Ariz.
The Ducks did it with a combination of a powerful and efficient spread offense and a defense that did not allow a touchdown, held the Sun Devils to 1 of 13 on third down, 175 yards of total offense, nine total first downs and 33 total yards passing.
Oregon’s defense did all that despite injuries forcing defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti to use multiple players Saturday – some who had yet to play significant time this season.
“I’m very pleased with the way we played today,” Aliotti said. “We had a lot of guys play, a lot of guys step up in different positions. We played more guys than we’ve ever played on defense because of the heat and injuries. I feel really good about the win.”
With defensive starters Jeremy Gibbs (ankle), cornerback Jackie Bates (ankle), linebacker Brent Haberly (arm) and defensive tackle Cole Linehan (foot) out with injury and battling temperatures over 95 degrees inside Sun Devil Stadium, the Ducks’ defensive depth was on display Saturday.
That depth meant disaster for Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter and a struggling Arizona State offense, which heard “boos” on multiple occasions from the sparse home crowd of 58,526 – about 15,000 fans less than stadium’s capacity.
One week after being intercepted four times at California,
Carpenter again looked out of sync by completing just 6-of-19 passes for 33 yards and throwing one interception to give him a conference-high of nine on the season.
Oregon’s defense continually harassed Carpenter, sacking him six times. It took the Ducks the first three games of the season to manage the same sack total achieved Saturday.
Reserve defensive end Dexter Manley II, a transfer from Santa Monica College in California, accounted for three of Oregon’s sacks. The son of former NFL standout Dexter Manley,
Manley II came into the game having played in only one other contest this season, recording one tackle.
“I’m extremely pleased with the way Dexter stepped it up today and made some big plays for us, put some pressure on the quarterback,” Aliotti said. “That’s good, we need a guy like that. We’ve been looking for a pass rusher. Today, he shined.”
Defensive line coach Michael Gray agreed. “It was great to see him show up. I loved it. He brought some energy to us,” Gray said.
Manley said he likes to use two specific moves when rushing the quarterback – the club and rip and the counter inside, both he learned from his father.
Either way, he is a welcome sight to a defensive line that has struggled to pressure the quarterback.
“I knew it was going to be my time to step up and make some plays because of our injured players, and I stepped up to the plate,” Manley said.
He was one of many backups that contributed often on Saturday. Reserves Nick Reed and Ed Dickson both recorded two tackles, David Faaeteete had one tackle and Michael Speed had one tackle and one fumble recovery. Backup safety Jerome Boyd recorded three tackles and one-half sack.
“Those guys playing their first extended periods of time really showed up,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
While the defensive line added the pressure, the young secondary – figuring to face its most pass-happy opponent – held the Sun Devils’ receivers in check.
Arizona State’s leading receiver, Michael Jones, had just one catch for nine yards.
The secondary featured two redshirt freshman corners in Jairus Byrd and Walter Thurmond after Bates – a junior and the most experienced returnee – broke his ankle in the second week of the season against Fresno State. He is likely done for the season.
Saturday, the secondary received a positive boost with the return of redshirt freshman Terrell Ward, who played in his first collegiate action. He suffered a knee injury prior to the season in fall camp and was unable to play in Oregon’s first three games.
But he made an impact in just his second play on the field by intercepting Carpenter in the end zone on a third-down red zone pass attempt on Arizona State’s second possession of the game.
“First chance to play ever and he plays in a Pac-10 game away?” Aliotti said. “(I’m) very pleased.”
Ward, who was the anticipated starter going into the season before his injury, said he calmed down after his first play on the field. After that, it was just playing football.
“It was exhilarating,” Ward said. “It felt great. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
The unfortunate news for the Oregon defense Saturday was that it suffered yet another injury when defensive tackle Cole Linehan went down with a broken foot and likely won’t be able to return until the Civil War against Oregon State.
Linehan was seventh on the team with 11 tackles entering Saturday’s contest.
Before the injury, he accounted for a sack in the red zone that held Arizona State to a second-quarter field goal.
Offensive first-timers
There were few other reserve standouts and firsts for the Oregon offense on Saturday. Wide receiver Derrick Jones, playing in his first extended duty, caught his first pass, a nine-yard reception in the second quarter from Dennis Dixon that help set up a 33-yard field goal from kicker Paul Martinez.
He finished with only one catch but nearly had another for a touchdown if Arizona State’s Chad Green had not interfered in the end zone.
Fellow wide receiver Jordan Kent hauled in his first touchdown this season and second of his career on a jump ball early in the fourth quarter that gave Oregon a 38-13 lead. He also dropped a sure touchdown in the fourth quarter on a skinny post from Brady Leaf.
“I definitely just took my eyes off it at the last second,” Kent said. “I got too concerned that there was a guy right there when in reality I was wide open.”
Reserve tight end Dan Kause secured his first catch of the season, an 11-yard reception from Leaf, and his first touchdown of his career on a 13-yard pass from Leaf late in the fourth quarter. That pass and catch also marked Leaf’s first touchdown pass of the season.
Rough Road Ahead
Oregon’s road show continues next week with a stiff challenge awaiting in Berkeley, Calif. against the No. 20 California Golden Bears.
The Golden Bears are 4-0 since their opening season loss at Tennessee. Saturday, the Bears also won big on the road, beating Oregon State 41-13.
California racked up 483 yards of total offense behind the arm of quarterback Nate Longshore, who threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. The legs of Heisman hopeful Marshawn Lynch.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Manley II said. “But I feel our team is strong and we can go play anybody right now. Anybody.”