When Demetrius Williams hauled in an 85-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens on Saturday against Washington, it appeared Oregon’s losing ways had come to an end.
The scoring toss gave the Ducks a 10-0 first-half lead over the Huskies, which seemed fairly secure after a 35-0 trouncing of Stanford a week prior.
But as quickly as it seemed that Oregon had broken old habits, the Ducks returned to form by allowing 42 unanswered points, leading to their fourth loss in the past five games.
“We felt real confident going in to halftime,” Williams said of the Ducks’ 10-7 lead at the break. “When we came back out, it was a different game. We didn’t have the same intensity.”
Saturday’s loss to the Huskies recalled a scenario painfully similar to last season. Just as the Oregon gets that winning flavor back against Stanford, a Washington school slaps the taste out of its mouth the following week.
Oregon linebacker Jerry Matson said the Ducks have to remember how good it feels to win if they are to avoid last season’s collapse.
“Our break surely wasn’t that long,” linebacker Jerry Matson said. “It’s kind of disappointing to go right back into (the loss column).
“At least we got to taste victory and have some incentive for our guys to play. Hopefully we haven’t forgotten what it took to get there, and hopefully we can return real soon.”
Oregon players and coaches alike know that Oregon must maintain its focus for the entire game in order to be successful. In the Stanford win, Oregon’s focus and intensity carried into the fourth quarter when, despite leading 28-0, the Ducks held the Cardinal out of the end zone with a seven-play goal line stand. In their four losses, the Ducks either started slow or came out flat in the second half.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti was pleased to hear what his players were saying about wanting to play a complete game.
“Those are my exact words,” Bellotti said. “I like the fact that they say that they believe that. It’s very important (to be focused). No matter how we play in the first half, we have to play four full quarters and maybe more. We haven’t done that as often as we need to, and that’s the challenge to this group of kids.”
With Jeff Tedford leading an exciting California team into Autzen Stadium, Oregon players know they’ll have to be on top of their game for 60 minutes. The weather will be cold and the Golden Bears’ offense is loaded. Tedford has a 1,000-yard receiver in Geoff McArthur and a 1,000-yard running back in Adimchinobe Echemandu at his disposal and won’t hesitate to test an Oregon defense, which has allowed more than 40 points on three occasions.
Regardless of the weapons California has available, the key to Oregon’s success comes back to playing a complete game. If Oregon wants to go to a bowl game, it most likely will need to win two of its remaining three games. It doesn’t get any easier after the Bears as the Ducks travel to UCLA and host Oregon State to close out the regular season.
Matson said the Ducks have to play with intensity no matter what the score is if they are to return to their winning ways.
“Just taking on responsibility and having pride when you’re ahead or behind (is important),” Matson said. “The same thing that prevents you from getting blown out is the same thing that prevents you from (blowing a lead).
“Having pride in what you do every single snap, regardless of whether the chips are up or down, makes you play with that same intensity throughout the game.”
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