Oregon might need to find some wood and start knocking on it at this point in the season. The Ducks have suffered few major injuries and maintained relatively good health.
Only cornerback Rodney Woods has been lost for the year after undergoing season-ending knee surgery to repair torn ligaments. Starting safety Marley Tucker suffered a dislocated elbow against Arizona State Oct. 2 and is expected to be sidelined from four to eight weeks.
“The only player that might be out is Matt Toenia. He re-strained an ankle within the game last week,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “He wants to practice. We’re going to judge whether or not that will be the same situation of getting to the game and probably not being able to finish the game or whether a week off would allow him to finish the season. It will be a tough decision, and without a bye week we will not have time to heal up some of these ongoing injuries.”
Wide receiver Keith Allen is expected to play with a minor knee injury.
“Keith Allen will probably be back,” Bellotti said. “He practiced Monday, and we will have to see how his knee withstood that. Matt is the only person that is questionable and everyone else is probable.”
Bellotti coaching
in all-star classic
After the season, Mike Bellotti will have some more coaching to do. The Oregon head coach was named in the 2005 Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Football Classic, to be held Jan. 22 at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui. This will be Bellotti’s first invite to the annual classic and marks the fifth time he has coached in an all-star classic. He twice coached in the East West Shrine Game (1999 and 2002), and has been a part of the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic (1989 and 1996).
Ten and counting
After throwing touchdown passes in each of the first five games, quarterback Kellen Clemens has extended his consecutive games with a touchdown streak to 10. Former Oregon quarterback Jason Fife holds the record after throwing a touchdown in all 12 games in 2002. Heisman Trophy finalist Joey Harrington could only manage a streak of eight games, while Akili Smith accumulated a run of 11 games in 1997-98.

More accolades
for Clemens
In addition to his touchdown streak, Clemens entered his name into a few other Oregon record categories. With his six touchdowns last week against Washington State, Clemens tied the school record for most touchdowns in a game with Harrington (vs. Arizona State, 2000 and 2001) and Danny O’Neil (vs. Stanford, 1994).
Clemens also had personal bests in total offense (473 yards, second all-time in Oregon history), completions (36, second all-time), pass attempts (55, tied for third all-time) and yards passing (437, seventh all-time).
Sustained achievement
Oregon embarked on this season in search of a school-record 11th straight winning season. The Ducks’ 10 straight tied the school record set from 1902-11, while that feat has only been surpassed by three other conference opponents. USC (1962-82) and Washington (1977-97) each compiled streaks of 21 seasons in a row, while Stanford put together a streak of 13 from 1923-35.
Another block for Ngata
Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Haloti Ngata is becoming a menace for opposing kicking units. His blocked extra point against the Cougars marked the second block in the last three games — he had a blocked field goal against Idaho — and the fifth of his career. He blocked kicks against UCLA (extra point), USC (field goal) and Washington State (extra point) as a true freshman in 2001.
Stoops the sequel
After Saturday, Oregon will become the first program in the country to face two Stoops-coached teams in one season. The Ducks were unsuccessful in their first attempt, against Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma Sooners, after suffering a 31-7 loss in Norman, Okla.

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