PULLMAN, Wash. – For the second consecutive week, the Oregon Ducks (9-1 overall, 6-1 Pacific-10 Conference) managed a late score to win the game.
And for the second straight week, a different quarterback guided their final drive.
This time, Dennis Dixon engineered a 14-play, 73-yard drive to set up a 19-yard field goal for Paul Martinez with one second remaining, lifting the Ducks to a 34-31 victory against the Washington State Cougars (3-7, 0-7) in front of 27,595 at Martin Stadium.
Last weekend against California, Dixon split time with fellow sophomore Brady Leaf, but it was Leaf who guided Oregon to the victory in overtime.
On the final drive in Pullman on Saturday night, Dixon got the call and was a perfect 4 of 4 passing for 42 yards. He also ran for 16 yards on the drive to set up Martinez’ final kick.
“It was loud and cold. It was the worst conditions ever,” Dixon said. “But you’ve got to play through that, which me and Brady did tonight. It feels excellent.”
The two-quarterback system was again effective for the Ducks. Dixon finished 16 of 22 passing for 197 yards and a touchdown, and Leaf, in a homecoming of sorts, was 12 of 17 for 99 yards and a touchdown. Leaf’s older brother, former Cougar quarterback Ryan, led Washington State to the Rose Bowl in 1997-98.
“It’s great to get a win out here. I’ve come to a lot of games here and dreamed about playing in this stadium since I was little kid,” Leaf said.
The win is Oregon’s sixth straight of the season, its only loss coming on Sept. 24 against top-ranked USC. At 9-1 the Ducks are off to their best start since finishing 11-1 in 2001-02.
“I’m proud of this group of kids,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “They’ve been a special group all season. I think it’s neat for them to be able to have this successful season.”
Oregon trailed at the half against Washington State after Cougar quarterback and Eugene native Alex Brink connected with Jason Hill on a 40-yard desperation pass as time expired, giving the Cougars a 14-10 lead at the half.
Washington State extended its lead on the first possession of the second half, driving 80 yards in six plays, capped by Brink’s 34-yard pass to tailback Jerome Harrison. Harrison finished with 181 yards of total offense.
“Jerome Harrison is, obviously, as good as he is publicized to be,” Bellotti said.
Oregon responded with a 62-yard drive that ended when Leaf found wideout James Finley for an eight-yard touchdown, which cut the deficit to 21-16. Leaf was six of eight on the drive for 57 yards. A two-point conversion failed.
Defensive end Darius Sanders recorded his first career interception on Washington State’s ensuing possession, setting up the Ducks next score, a 23-yard reverse by wideout Cameron Colvin, which gave Oregon a 24-21 lead after successfully converting the two-point conversion.
The Ducks then took their biggest lead at 31-21 after Dixon threw Jordan Kent a 68-yard touchdown pass – the longest of the season and first touchdown of Kent’s career.
The score capped an explosive third quarter for the Ducks, who scored 21 unanswered points.
The Cougars tied the game in the fourth quarter after Troy Bienemann caught a touchdown and Loren Langley made a 45-yard field goal with just more than five minutes left before Dixon’s final drive.
The win at Martin Stadium is Oregon’s second straight and fifth in its last six trips to Pullman, with the last five games being decided by a total of 27 points.
The Ducks’ regular season concludes next weekend at Autzen Stadium against Oregon State.
