They are a one-two punch.
They are a left uppercut and a jab to the gut.
Oregon’s offensive combination of Maurice Morris and Joey Harrington has been knocking out opposing teams all season.
Harrington, the quarterback, is better on the road. Morris, the tailback, is better at Autzen Stadium. When one has a bad game, the other steps in and shines, and the Ducks are 8-1 as a result.
Recently, the star has been Harrington.
“Whenever the team struggles, whether it’s the defense or the running game, we always know [Harrington] will step it up,” Morris said. “He’s done it all year.”
The junior quarterback has thrown for 646 yards and seven touchdowns in the Ducks’ last two road games against Arizona State and Washington State, while Morris has rushed 31 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns in those matchups.
Harrington’s performance last Saturday against Washington State led Cougar head coach Mark Price to call the signal-caller a “damn good quarterback.”
“That guy is a player,” Price said.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti also enjoyed Harrington’s winning ways Saturday.
“He came up with some big
plays,” Bellotti said. “We did not have a consistent running game today.”
Morris has not rushed for more than 100 yards in a road game this season. The tailback averages 79 yards on the ground in opponents’ stadiums.
But don’t forget the season’s earlier home wins against UCLA and Washington, when Morris picked up Harrington’s slack. In those games Morris rushed for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Harrington completed 24 of 56 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown.

After those games, Bellotti was singing the praises of Morris, not Harrington.
“I’ve been pleased with our ability to run the football and contain the running game of our opponents,” Bellotti said after the Washington game. “I think our offensive passing attack can be better.”
While Morris has struggled on the road, Harrington has struggled at home. The quarterback averages 143.8 yards through the air at Autzen Stadium, drastically lower than the 347.5 yards he averages on the road. That means Harrington is nearly two-and-a-half times better on the road than he is at home.
The irony of the two-headed monster is that although one key player per game is ineffective, the tactic helps Oregon win.
When the Ducks faced an eager-to-win Southern California team last month, the Trojans consistently packed nine defenders — including star linebackers Zeke Moreno and Markus Steele — on the defensive line.
The strategy helped to contain Morris, who had 85 yards, but opened the way for Harrington, who threw for 382 yards against primarily single coverage.

Against Arizona the following week, Morris broke out for 114 yards when Harrington stalled against the Wildcats’ tougher-than-usual passing defense. Morris had 34 carries that game, second only to the 37 he had against UCLA.
“He’s a warrior,” Harrington said about his running back. “Morris shows that same sort of toughness [as Reuben Droughns]. He’s out there day in and day out taking a beating, and when you’re a showcase running back in a Division I school, you’re going to take a pounding.”
So the question on Oregon fans’ minds this week will be: “Who’s next?” Will Morris or Harrington be the superstar to lead the Ducks past California Saturday?
Ask Morris whether Saturday will be his game, and he gives you two words.
“Oh yeah,” Morris says with a grin. “Oh yeah.”
Saturday could be the first time when both pieces of the offense come together. Harrington will be facing the Pacific-10 Conference’s worst pass defense, while Morris will work against the league’s fourth-best rushing defense.
The game is, of course, at Autzen Stadium, where Harrington hasn’t passed for more than 200 yards since the Ducks played Washington State last season.
The double threat has yet to meet in the same game, and Saturday the introductions could be made. Mr. Morris, meet Mr. Harrington.