It was definitely cold at Autzen Stadium early Saturday afternoon, and the weather wasn’t so hot, either.
As the day wore on, the 45,845 fans endured cold, crisp 43-degree temperatures — but somehow, the Oregon football team heated up.
The Ducks’ offense came alive in the second half and Oregon came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat defensive-minded California, 25-17, in its final home game this season.
Oregon secured at least a share of the Pacific-10 Conference title by beating the Golden Bears.
“I don’t think we’ll be completely satisfied until it’s done, until it’s all ours,” said place-kicker Josh Frankel, who scored the Ducks’ six first-half points on two field goals. “It just feels like another win.”
Oregon didn’t seem like a team that had won a conference championship for just the sixth time in history. Nor did it seem like the No. 5 team in the nation, which it is — for the first time and for a new Oregon record — according to the Associated Press.
Rather than reflect on their most recent victory, several Oregon players talked about their upcoming matchup with No. 8 Oregon State.
“Every year it’s been a physical game with the Beavers,” defensive end Jason Nikolao said. “We’re hoping for another one, I’m hoping for another one, I want another one. No matter how many injuries I have, or how many injuries are on this team, everybody wants a physical game because it’s our last one for awhile before the bowl game, and we want to leave it all out on the field.”
“We could be Pac-10 champions and go and, and … I don’t even want to think about it,” Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington said. “This season’s not going to be complete until we play a good, physical football game next week.
“I guarantee you both of these teams are going to be fired up and ready to hit somebody.”
Several Ducks said they had evening plans to watch the Beavers play Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., that night because an Oregon State loss would have meant a certain Rose Bowl berth for Oregon.
Turns out that the Beavers routed the Wildcats, 33-9, and one might think that if any Oregon State players were watching the Ducks play California, they may not have been as impressed.
Oregon, perhaps swayed by an emotional ceremony to honor the team’s departing seniors minutes before kickoff, wasn’t in synch during the first half of play.
Harrington completed just 11 of 25 passes in the opening 30 minutes of the game, including one interception, and Oregon committed four penalties for a loss of 44 yards.
Despite California’s 7-6 halftime lead, the Ducks’ offense was on the field for almost six minutes longer than Cal’s, had 10 first downs to the Bears’ five, had twice as many rushing yards and 33 more passing yards.
Fortunately for Oregon, its offense settled down in the second half. Harrington was true on his first eight passes, and dived into the end zone from two yards out with 10:25 left in the third, giving Oregon a 12-7 lead. He finished with 252 yards passing.
Following a spectacular, 87-yard catch-and-run touchdown by California receiver Geoff McArthur, the Ducks took control of the game for good in the fourth quarter after Harrington passed 29 yards to Keenan Howry in the end zone. Harrington rushed one yard for another touchdown with five minutes left to seal the win.
“I was very pleased that the kids responded to the challenge from halftime, and clearly this was a little bit more pleasurable at the end than some of the games we’ve had lately,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “Although it was close, I did expect it would be a hard-fought game.”
The Ducks set the tone for their dismal first half with a poor opening drive. A false start set Oregon back to its 23-yard line, tailback Maurice Morris was stopped for a loss of two and Harrington was sacked for a loss of 13. One incomplete pass later and Kurtis Doerr was punting, but a non-contact interference call put Cal’s offense on Oregon’s 27-yard line.
California quarterback Kyle Boller completed a 26-yard pass to receiver Phillip Pipersburg, and tailback Joe Igber dived in for the early touchdown on the second play of the drive.
The Golden Bears lost to Oregon State last Saturday, even though Beaver tailback Ken Simonton missed most of the second half with a hamstring injury. After losing at Autzen Stadium — the 20th straight time an opponent has done so — all but one Golden Bear remained indifferent as to which team in the state of Oregon was best.
“Oregon State executes way better than Oregon did today,” California punter Nick Harris told The Register-Guard. “Oregon may have played better in the past, but right now Oregon State looks like the best team in the Pac-10.”