Oregon redshirt freshman Keith Allen came off the bench to play a huge role in Saturday’s 38-21 victory at Utah State. His four catches
for 92 yards was enough to make him the team’s top receiver for the game.
First, starting wide receiver Jason Willis went down with a concussion.
Then, the other starter, Keenan Howry, was sent to the sidelines for the rest of the game after suffering a rib contusion late in the first half.
And just like that, all eyes were on redshirt freshman Keith Allen.
Granted, the setting Saturday night was Romney Stadium in Logan, Utah, and not the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, but it was still a big spot for a young wide receiver entering Oregon’s game against Utah State with only one career reception.
With the team’s leading receivers out for the rest of the game, Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti approached Allen and told him to be ready.
“He walked up to me and said, ‘Hey, you gotta’ go out there and make plays. Go do what you have to do,’ ” Allen said.
One would imagine that the butterflies began multiplying in Allen’s stomach as he stepped onto the field, but Allen said they didn’t stay in there for long.
“I was a little nervous when I first got in there, but after the first catch, it kind of went away,” Allen said. “I wasn’t surprised at all by my catches. It just felt good to be out there.”
Allen, who was the offensive scout team’s player of the week twice last season, was Oregon’s leading receiver Saturday after pulling in four catches for 92 yards.
“It gave me a lot of confidence because I got to see what I could do out there,” Allen said. “I really didn’t know because I hadn’t really got the chance. I was just waiting my turn this whole season and the time came and I went in there and stepped it up. It felt great.”
Bellotti said Tuesday that Willis has fully recovered from his concussion and will play this week and he believes that Howry will play, but he might do so at “80 or 90 percent.”
Which means Allen will again be waiting for the call to come this Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz., when the Ducks face the Wildcats, and he’s fine with that. He knows they’re the proven starters, but now he also knows that he can fill in when necessary.
“Those are big shoes to fill because both are great players,” Allen said. “But you just have to prepare like you’re going to play and be ready at all times.”
Amundson out, Shaw in
Bellotti said that third-string tailback Allan Amundson, who has been impressive this season in returning kickoffs, will be out at least “a couple weeks” after spraining his left ankle Saturday.
As a result of Amundson’s absence, the Ducks have activated sophomore tailback Ryan Shaw from redshirt status. Bellotti, however, would prefer to use only Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith to preserve Shaw’s extra year of eligibility.
“Ryan is activated and will be available, and I will hope to not have him play, but if the need comes, he’ll be prepared,” Bellotti said.
If only he knew …
The Ducks nearly had two 100-yard rushers in their 38-21 victory over Utah State on Saturday. Morris exploded for a career-high 175 yards, while Smith came up just two yards shy of the triple-digit mark with 98.
“We talked about those two yards,” Morris said. “I’m not even sure if he knew about it. If he did, I’m sure he would have gotten those two.”
A parting shot
This from Utah State linebacker Tony Newson after Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Joey Harrington threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns, as well as running in for a score.
“Heisman-boy, I think he did OK,” Newson told the Associated Press. “He was poised in the pocket and made some big plays. But he wasn’t all he was made out to be.”
With the win, Harrington improved his record as Oregon’s starter to 18-2.
