If Hollywood had tried to script Oregon’s game against Michigan, no one would have believed what would have been concocted.
Much like David slaying mighty Goliath, the No. 22 Ducks upset No. 3 Michigan on Saturday, 31-27, in front of a record 59,023 fans at Autzen Stadium.
This was Oregon’s biggest win since a 38-16 victory over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl two seasons ago, and its biggest win at Autzen since defeating UCLA in 2000.
“I’m very proud and pleased at the performance of our coaches and players,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “Obviously, our kids were ready to play and the fans helped. It was almost like the Autzen of old.”
The 59,000-plus fans rocked the stadium to decibel levels reminiscent of Autzen’s pre-remodeled state. They did so as Oregon (4-0 overall) blocked an extra point, blocked a punt, scored a touchdown after a Michigan fumble, and ran back a punt for a touchdown.
Oh, and the Ducks also sacked Wolverine quarterback John Navarre four times and held national running leader Chris Perry to 26 yards on 11 carries.
“Coach Bellotti was stressing before the game that special teams was going to make the difference,” cornerback Steven Moore said.
Moore returned a punt 61 yards to put the Ducks up 21-6 with 7:50 left to play in the second quarter. He also picked off a Navarre pass that was intended for Braylon Edwards in the third.
“I just felt like I was floating on air,” Moore said of his punt return.
“I knew he was going to run a post (pattern),” he added regarding the interception.
Linebacker Kevin Mitchell and Moore both said the win stands as one of their top victories in an Oregon uniform, although consecutive wins over nationally ranked UCLA and Washington in 2000, as well as the victory over Colorado, can be considered in that category.
“It’s hard to say how good we are (right now),” Mitchell said. “The potential is there. We’ve got a long way to go still.”
Oregon had its fair share of problems against Michigan.
The Ducks started off the game with a drive that lasted just less than 10 minutes, culminating with a Kellen Clemens run from the 1-yard line. When he didn’t make it, and subsequently the Ducks were called for a false start penalty, Jared Siegel lined up for a 23-yard field goal.
What happened then quickly quieted the Autzen crowd. Marlin Jackson sliced through the Oregon offensive line and blocked Siegel’s kick. Jeremy LeSueur picked up the loose ball and ran it back for a 78-yard touchdown.
Oregon also allowed Navarre to pass for 360 yards — 318 of that coming in the second half. But the common theme after the game was Oregon’s resolve.
“Credit the character of this team to really come back and put together another drive like we did,” quarterback Kellen Clemens said of the team’s seven play, 60-yard scoring drive early in the second quarter.
Clemens passed for 160 yards by completing 15 of 23 attempts. Jason Fife came in the game in the second quarter and finished the afternoon 5 of 8 for 93 yards.
Clemens “learned a lot,” Bellotti said. “Kellen really turnedthe corner.”
Meanwhile, the Duck running game found the holes left by the Michigan (3-1) defensive line, racking up 127 yards on 45 carries. Terrence Whitehead led the attack with 76 yards in 22 carries, while Clemens scurried for another 26.
“We felt you can’t be one dimensional against a defense like Michigan’s,” Bellotti said.
Down 31-21 with just less than three minutes left to play, Michigan took an Oregon loss of downs at its own 34-yard line.
Two straight completions to Edwards — one for 14 yards, the other for 16 — put the Wolverines at the Oregon 36. After an incompletion intended for Edwards, Navarre found Steve Breaston streaking over the middle. He promptly made a deke move on cornerback Rodney Woods, then went untouched into the end zone.
However, a block on the extra point by Igor Olshansky kept the Wolverines down by four.
With 2:12 left in the game, a Michigan onside kick bounced off the Ducks and into the hands of a Wolverine player. Michigan moved to the Oregon 41 before Navarre’s pass to Edwards fell incomplete, icing the game for the Ducks with 33 seconds left.
“When we had that onside kick, I was so nervous,” Oregon linebacker Jerry Matson said.
For the first time this season, the Ducks failed to complete a pass for a touchdown, instead relying on special teams and the running game to post scores. Whitehead scored on a 19-yard run in the second quarter, and Fife went virtually untouched late in the second half on an option play to put Oregon up 14-6.
With 6:55 left in the fourth quarter, Keith Lewis broke through the Michigan defense and blocked an Adam Finley punt. Rodney Woods and J.D. Nelson both attempted to corral it — Nelson even fumbling as he tumbled into the end zone ? before Jordan Carey finally landed on it for the touchdown.
Proving the Oregon secondary may have turned the corner, sophomore Justin Phinisee picked off a Navarre pass in the waning moments of the game.
The Ducks now must focus their attention on No. 24 Washington State. The Cougars come to Autzen next week for the first time in three seasons.
The game is Oregon’s second Pacific-10 Conference matchup of theseason.
“Every game has added significance now,” Bellotti said.