The Ducks (7-3 overall, 4-3 Pacific-10 Conference) come home this weekend unranked for the first time all season.
Oregon, which was ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll prior to last week’s 35-10 defeat at USC, received only 36 votes from the AP this week.
After starting the season 4-0 and punctuating that early success with a controversial 34-33 win over Oklahoma on Sept. 16, many fans were touting this season as one of the best in recent years. And over the next couple of weeks, Oregon appeared to live up to that hype with an emphatic 48-13 victory over Arizona State on Sept. 30, and rising to a season-high No. 11 in the AP’s week six standings.
But with a 45-24 loss at Cal and a 34-23 loss two weeks later at Washington State, the kinks began to show in the Ducks’ armor. At no time was that more apparent than in last weekend’s loss to a USC team that has often looked beatable this season.
The Ducks simply unraveled in Los Angeles against the Trojans.
Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon went 15-of-23 and threw one interception before he was kneed in the head on a block attempt, and knocked out of the game. As a team, Oregon also committed two turnovers deep in its own territory that led to USC’s second and third touchdowns.
Now, the Ducks come home for Senior Day, needing to finish the season strong by beating Arizona at home this weekend, and then defeating Oregon State in Corvallis next weekend to stay in the hunt for third-place and the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29 – the best bowl Oregon can hope for at the moment. The Ducks are currently third in the standings ahead of Oregon State and Washington State.
Stewart’s travel woes
Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart has struggled to find his form on the road this season. Against USC last weekend, Stewart was limited to 43 yards on 14 carries. He also had problems in Pullman, Wash., on Oct. 21. The Cougars held him to just 28 yards on 11 carries. Against California on Oct. 7, Stewart was again shut down.
He managed only 25 yards on 18 carries.
In contrast, the 5-foot-11, 230-pound sophomore from Lacey, Wash., has had some big games at Autzen Stadium this year.
Stewart ran for a career-high 168 yards and two touchdowns in the Ducks home opener against Stanford on Sept. 2, then added 159 yards and two more touchdowns when the Huskies visited Eugene on Nov. 4.
If that pattern holds up, Stewart will likely rack up the numbers against a stingy Wildcats’ defense this weekend.
Pocket protectors
Led by seniors Enoka Lucas and Palauni Ma Sun, Oregon’s offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks this season, which ties the Ducks for eighth best in the country. The offensive line managed to keep Dixon out of the reach of the opposition’s defense until the third game of the season.
Dixon was untouched against Stanford and Fresno State, and the offensive line kept the Sun Devils away from its quarterback as well despite the fact that Arizona State was tied for the nation’s lead in quarterback takedowns when the Sun Devils played the Ducks on Sept. 30.
Looking forward by looking back
Oregon has only lost to Arizona once under coach Mike Bellotti (38-3 in Tucson in 1998). The Ducks are 19-12 all-time versus the Wildcats, and their last loss to Arizona at home came in 1986. Oregon has won its last eight home games, a streak which dates back to the Ducks’ 45-13 loss to then-No. 1 USC last season. The Ducks were nearly upset last year in Tucson, Ariz., Oregon came in to the game sporting a No. 15 ranking and a 6-1 record and looked to have an easy time against the struggling Wildcats after scoring 21 first-quarter points. But the Duck offense, which lost Kellen Clemens to a broken ankle in the third quarter, was shut out the rest of the way and Arizona was sparked by the play of true freshman quarterback Willie Tuitama, who played in his first game action that night in the desert against the Ducks.
Tuitama rallied the Wildcats to 21-consecutive points to tie the game and Oregon needed a late fumble recovery and 34-yard return by linebacker Brent Haberly to beat Arizona 28-21
[email protected]