The end of Jeremiah Johnson’s redshirt season added more than depth to the Oregon backfield. Possessing a quick burst, Johnson has added a valuable option on kickoff returns.
Returning the opening kickoff 35 yards and the second 21 yards last week against Washington, Johnson strengthened Oregon’s special teams. Johnson combined with Jonathan Stewart for four kickoff returns averaging 31.25 yards per return and with Justin Phinisee, who returned three punts for 21 yards, as the special teams gave Oregon quality starting position on nearly every possession.
That starting position helped quarterback Kellen Clemens and the Oregon offense have a record- setting afternoon.
Johnson earned extra time at running back, gaining 38 yards on three carries, as Oregon controlled the game 21-7 at halftime.
Stewart continued his recovery from an ankle injury as he gained 28 yards on six carries. His most impressive play came in the third quarter, when he took a handoff and ran 17 yards along the right side into the end zone.
Record-setters
The explosive Oregon offense is putting up record numbers and old marks are falling by the game.
Clemens set the Autzen Stadium record for completions with 36.
He broke Paul Pinegar’s record of completions set earlier this season when Fresno State lost to the Ducks 37-34. Pinegar’s 33 completions were shared with Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer, who did it in 1990. Clemens passed for 425 yards and four touchdowns against Washington.
Fittingly, with former quarterback Danny O’Neil in attendance for the 1994 football team’s induction into Oregon’s Hall of Fame, Clemens moved closer to the current Eugene minister, passing Joey Harrington into third place with 60 career touchdown passes.
One week after Terrence Whitehead brought up Bobby Moore’s name with 100 yards each running and receiving; the senior running back had 59 receiving yards to surpass 1,000 for his career. Joining Moore and Sean Burwell, Whitehead is the third Oregon player with more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving.
Wide receiver Cameron Colvin caught a career-high 63 yards. He had 55 yards receiving against both Houston and Fresno State earlier this season.
Defensive pressure
Anthony Trucks and Devan Long constantly harassed Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback, disrupting the Huskies’ already struggling offense.
Trucks had eight tackles – five solo – including one and a half sacks for 10 yards lost.
Long’s 2.5 sacks gave him 24.5 for his career, which ranks third on Oregon’s all-time sack list. Long had seven tackles – six solo – in moving into a tie with Reggie Jordan with 40.
The Washington game strung together three strong performances for Long since returning from injury against Stanford. He had a tackle for loss against Arizona State and a pass broken up. Against Stanford, Long overcame a slow start with three solo tackles, including two sacks for 17 yards lost.
Rover Patrick Chung played strong against Washington, intercepting a pass and returning it 26 yards. He led Oregon with 11 tackles, four solo.
Breaking through
Wide receiver Jaison Williams had his most impressive performance this season, catching five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown against Washington. The 6-foot-5, 237 redshirt freshman from Inglewood, Calif., now has 107 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Injuries
Kicker Matt Evensen had another strong performance in Paul Martinez’s absence with a leg injury. Evensen converted six extra-point opportunities and had a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Cornerback Aaron Gipson, who didn’t play against Arizona State with a concussion sustained against Stanford, returned Saturday and had two solo tackles. His replacement against Arizona State, Jackie Bates had another strong performance with three tackles. Against the Sun Devils, Bates had five tackles – four solo – and two passes broken up.

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