PULLMAN, Wash. — One quarter of execution erased an afternoon of frustration for the Oregon football team.
The Ducks fought through a plethora of mistakes to score 27 fourth-quarter points and capture a stunning 41-38 victory against Washington State on Saturday at Martin Stadium.
Oregon (2-3 overall, 1-1 Pacific-10 Conference) overcame a 14-point deficit with just under 12 minutes remaining, scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 13-yard run by quarterback Kellen Clemens with 1:21 to go. Washington State (3-2, 1-1) got one final possession, but wide receiver Trandon Harvey dropped two passes from quarterback Josh Swogger to stall the drive.
Clemens recorded the second-greatest offensive day in Oregon history, completing 36 of 55 passes for 437 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 36 yards and three more scores. Clemens’ 473 yards of total offense ranks behind only Bill Musgrave’s 498-yard performance against BYU in 1989.
Oregon needed Clemens’ herculean effort to make up for its sloppy play. Despite amassing 646 total yards, the Ducks trailed most of the game, due mainly to 104 yards in penalties, three turnovers and poor special teams play.
“I’m proud that we won the game,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “I’m proud that we came back and overcame our own mistakes.”
The Ducks’ most precarious position came late in the third quarter when Cougar wide receiver Michael Bumpus returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, giving Washington State a 27-14 lead. Oregon punter David Dittman had pinned the Cougars deep in their own territory with a booming 66-yard kick seconds before, but the play was wiped out after the Ducks were called for an illegal formation. On the ensuing punt, Bumpus caught the ball near the right sideline and broke several tackles before racing into the end zone.
Oregon continued to battle, however, and answered Washington State score-for-score until late in the fourth quarter, when the Ducks caught a huge break. After a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tim Day shortened the Washington State lead to 38-34, the Ducks recovered a fumble by Cougar defensive back Tyron Brackenridge on the ensuing kickoff, giving them the ball at the Washington State 23-yard line.
Oregon couldn’t cash in, however, as running back Terrence Whitehead fumbled the ball back to the Cougars on the next play.
Washington State was forced to punt four plays later, though, giving Oregon one final chance on its own 40-yard line with 3:13 remaining. Clemens then led the Ducks on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that ended on a quarterback draw.
“(Washington State) brought some pressure up the field, but not the direction where we were running,” Clemens said. “The offensive line opened up a hole, (fullback) Dante (Rosario) made a great block on the one linebacker that was there. It was kind of scary how open it was. I panicked at first. I took a three-step drop and hit the hole that the offensive line had opened up. Dante was leading the way and I just read his block.”
Saturday’s offensive explosion was much needed for a team that had been struggling to score.

Clemens came up huge when he was needed the most, completing 16 of 21 passes in the fourth quarter for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 12 yards and a score in the game’s final quarter.
“Kellen had a great game,” Day said. “(He had) three rushing touchdowns, threw the ball great and was poised in the pocket.”
Clemens had plenty of weapons at his disposal. Wide receiver Demetrius Williams, who was battling foot and shoulder injuries, caught 12 passes for 126 yards, while taking advantage of favorable matchups in the Cougar secondary.
The Ducks also found success by forcing the ball to Day over the middle of the field. The 268-pound tight end caught a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and hauled in eight receptions for 152 yards overall.
Despite the late fumble, Whitehead put on another outstanding performance. The junior rushed 22 times for 166 yards and caught seven passes for 71 yards. The Los Angeles native repeatedly burned the Cougars by turning shovel passes into big gains.
Wide receiver Cameron Colvin also showed his play-making abilities. The true freshman had three receptions for 35 yards, including a one-handed, drive-saving catch near the left sideline in the first quarter. The 14-yard reception on third-and-11 led to Oregon’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Clemens.
Swogger and the Cougar offense were impressive early, scoring on two long touchdown passes against Duck defensive back Marques Binns. After the junior cornerback was replaced by true freshman Jackie Bates, the Oregon defense started to slow down the Washington State passing attack.
Swogger finished 13 of 36 for 231 yards and three touchdowns, but
the sophomore threw two costly
interceptions.
Oregon cornerback Aaron Gipson picked off Swogger early in the third quarter, leading to a 3-yard touchdown run by Clemens. Safety Justin Phinisee also intercepted Swogger later in the quarter.
“We’ve been this good of a team all along and that’s the thing people don’t understand,” offensive tackle Adam Snyder said. “We showed it a little more tonight and we’re just going to keep going and keep that positive attitude.”

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