TEMPE, Ariz. – Oregon coach Mike Bellotti sat down, sighed and gulped his drink.
All the publicity and attention surrounding Oregon football culminated Saturday afternoon with the Ducks 48-13 win against Arizona State in Sun Devil Stadium.
“Our players played with great purpose (Saturday),” Bellotti said.
The national media attention and questions following Oregon’s controversial 34-33 win over Oklahoma evaporated in a high-scoring rout. The win elevated Oregon to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in the Pacific-10 Conference and left Arizona State 3-2, 0-2.
The predicted offensive showdown between two high powered offenses never materialized. Oregon did its part. Arizona State sputtered.
Oregon’s no-huddle offense flowed with quarterback Dennis Dixon and wide receiver Jaison Williams finding an early rhythm. On the first drive alone, Dixon connected with Williams on three passes, ending with a 13-yard touchdown reception and 7-0 Oregon lead.
Williams caught four more Dixon passes on the next drive. Williams grabbed the last pass, bounced off a defender and ran into the end zone for a 14-0 Oregon lead.
By the end of the first quarter, Williams had hauled in seven receptions for 100 yards.
“We just had to keep their defense on the field and keep them tired,” Williams said. “When it was time to bust a big one, we’d bust a big one.”
Williams’ final total of 137 yards marked his second straight game with more than 130 yards and continued the sophomore’s evolution into a reliable go-to option. The same chemistry former Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens enjoyed with Demetrius Williams is reappearing this season with Dixon and Jaison Williams.
It showed in the fourth quarter, when Dixon, facing third-and-nine, passed to Williams, who carried his defender for 12 yards and a first down.
“That’s J-Will in a nutshell … a big frame to throw to,” Dixon said of the 6-foot-5, 243 pound Williams. “It’s hard to miss him, to tell you the truth. When he’s out there, his confidence is building play by play and game by game. We need that in him.”
Often Arizona State played off Williams, and even when corners played him close, he used his size.
“Coming in, (coaches) told us, the corners are going to be small so I just had to use my strength and not so much agility because when you’re bigger (you can) be more physical.”
The success of Oregon’s passing game precipitated a balanced attack with running backs Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson.
The two runners combined for 231 yards on 18 carries. Stewart started and ran for 142 yards on 12 carries and Johnson followed with 89 yards on six carries.
Both runners have dealt with nagging injuries in recent weeks – Stewart with his ankle and Johnson with his hamstring. Stewart tweaked his ankle in the second quarter, but is expected to play next week against California.
The sore ankle didn’t stop Stewart from breaking a 63-yard run in the third quarter.
The Ducks scored four touchdowns on possessions shorter than 3:02. Arizona State struggled with quarterback Rudy Carpenter unable to consistently connect with his receivers. The sophomore completed just 6 of 19 passes for 33 yards and an interception.
Two weeks ago, Carpenter guided a 3-0 Sun Devils offense. Now, he enters Arizona State’s bye week on a low. He tossed four interceptions in the Sun Devils 49-21 loss to California and in the second half of the Oregon loss, resorted to heavy doses of running back Ryan Torain (19 carries, 113 yards).
“It’s hard to imagine that Rudy (Carpenter) was playing at such a high level and over a two-game span it seems like we can’t get out of our own way right now,” Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter said.
Saturday’s game kicked off at 95 degrees. Going in, Oregon emphasized the heat, and it showed, as Oregon’s players appeared fresh. Coaches and players attributed it to staying hydrated and practicing in Eugene’s heat.
“I think the heat was not a factor,” Bellotti said.
“I’m pleased with our conditioning ’cause I think it could have been.”
Oregon has a week to prepare, and recuperate, before heading down to Berkeley and facing California (4-1, 2-0).
“They’re kind of the same team we are,” linebacker Blair Phillips said. “They are trying to incorporate a little more spread into their offense. They run basically the same defense we do and it’s going to be who wants it more.”
Take another lookOregon used instant replay to its advantage in the second quarter on a 21-yard pass from Dixon to Dante Rosario. Rosario caught the pass, fell to the ground and had the ball pop out and caught by Arizona State’s Josh Barrett.
With five seconds left, Arizona State tried to let the clock run out and run off the field. Bellotti challenged and the play was overturned. Kicker Paul Martinez made a 33-yard field goal for a 24-3 Oregon halftime advantage.
In the second half, officials gave Bellotti his challenge back, saying they should have reviewed the play on their own.