Brian Paysinger acknowledged the opportunity, then went out and grabbed it.
Nearly a month after his game-winning touchdown grab against Oklahoma, the junior receiver had another big game at Autzen Stadium. This time, he made it a career day against the UCLA Bruins.
Paysinger made four catches for 105 yards, almost doubling his previous career high of 58 yards against Oklahoma.
“This individual thing is not how I see it,” Paysinger said. “All 11 guys out there are doing what we can to score and get as much yardage as we can on offense.”
Oregon reversed a trend of miscues on the first drive of games when, just four plays into Saturday’s contest, Dixon spotted Paysinger behind the coverage for a 39-yard gain to the UCLA 22-yard line.
A play later, Paysinger made a 7-yard grab, setting up an 11-yard touchdown reception by Dante Rosario and a 7-0 Oregon lead.
The Dixon-Paysinger connection continued from there.
Paysinger made an over-the-shoulder catch for a 26-yard touchdown on Oregon’s third offensive possession, which gave the Ducks a 20-3 lead with just over one minute left in the first quarter.
Lately, Oregon’s offense has seen a different receiver carry the offensive load. While Jaison Williams eclipsed 100 yards against Fresno State, Oklahoma and Arizona State, Jordan Kent hauled in 113 yards against California.
An Oregon receiver has gone over 100 yards in five consecutive games.
“We can still be more efficient and better,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “We dropped a pass or two down field. But overall it’s nice that somebody else steps up every week because then we can still count on the other guys that are there.”
Paysinger declined to highlight his effort, focusing instead on the performance of Oregon’s offense against UCLA’s defense, ranked first in the conference in a variety of defensive categories.
“UCLA being ranked second in the nation and everything, that’s a good thing,” Paysinger said. “But they hadn’t played us.”
Paysinger, who had one catch for 13 yards against Cal and none against Arizona State, gave Oregon its go-to receiver in a game Oregon needed to stay in contention for a big bowl game.
“We hit kind of rock bottom last week,” Paysinger said of Oregon’s 45-24 loss to Cal. “You can’t stay down on that type of stuff for long. You just have to come back strong and do what you can.”
Changing the kicking game
Oregon resorted to kicker Matt Evensen when normal starter Paul Martinez had to exit with a nagging leg injury.
Bellotti had listed Martinez as day-to-day this week, but he started Saturday and his first extra point attempt after the opening touchdown drive was blocked.
In came Evensen, who handled kickoffs and made a 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“We both went into it knowing that we’d both get a chance to go in there,” Evensen said. “Whenever you get your chance, you have to make something of it.”
Another field-goal attempt, a 45-yarder, was blocked by UCLA with 11 minutes left in the game.
“It could have been a low kick, but they were definitely coming through,” Evensen said of UCLA’s defensive line.
Evensen, in addition to four touchbacks on kickoffs, lofted a clean onside kick in the third quarter that receiver Jordan Kent grabbed and gave Oregon possession.
“That’s more of a confidence thing than a technique thing,” Bellotti said of the kickoffs in his Sunday teleconference. “He has the power to kick it out. He is just now doing it more consistently.”
Last weekend against Cal, Martinez booted a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter but left the game. Evensen replaced him and made four kickoffs for 229 yards – a 57.2 yard average.
Punter Aaron Knowles made his second consecutive start in place of Matt Dragich. Knowles lofted two high kicks for a 39 yard average – both inside the UCLA 20-yard line.
Injuries and Updates
Josh Tschirgi left the game with a sprained ankle and is considered probable for Washington State. Stewart tweaked an ankle and is likely to play next week. Patrick Chung has some sore ribs.
Bellotti said Sunday that Vincent tore a ligament in his right ankle, has to have surgery and is lost for the season.
“That’s a tough blow to our special teams and our offense because he’s been playing hurt to a degree and helping us,” Bellotti said.
Running back Jeremiah Johnson returned two punts Saturday. He fumbled the second one and coach Bellotti said the position could be open to a group including Patrick Chung, Walter Thurmond III and Andiel Brown and Derrick Jones if he’s healthy. Bellotti said he wants a punt returner who will catch the football, secure it and get up the field.
BCS officials announced the first set of standings Sunday. Oregon is ranked No. 14 between No. 13 Arkansas and No. 15 Boise State.
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