I’d call it madness. Absolute, total madness.
Craziness.
Who would have thought that the Ducks would overcome a 14-point deficit with about 4 minutes left to come back and win? By one? In double overtime?
Obviously, Oregon’s players thought they could do it, and they did.
Like I said. Insanity.
Yet there they were, seemingly getting their hearts shattered when tight end Justin Peelle caught Joey Harrington’s pass, then was promptly stopped on Arizona State’s one-yard line. Had he gone just one more yard, it would have been the game-tying touchdown with less than two minutes remaining.
And then there were those Ducks again, leaping in celebration just moments later when Jermaine Hanspard recovered the fumble on what would have been a Sun Devil first down and, more importantly, Arizona State’s assurance that it could win the game on quarterback Jeff Krohn’s knee.
Next play, Peelle redeemed himself with a touchdown catch.
Unbelievable.
Then, the first overtime. Oregon’s depleted defense trudged into the extra period. Watching from the sideline was defensive end Jason Nikolao, who suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Arizona State’s first possession of the game, and Rashad Bauman, who jammed his arm against Sun Devil receiver Richard Williams. As Bauman fell in pain, Williams broke free, caught Krohn’s pass and ran for a 90-yard touchdown.
So it could be argued that the Ducks were playing the overtime periods without two of their four best defenders. One in stopping the run, the other in stopping the pass.
It would have been easy for ASU to score, but cornerback Steve Smith would have none of that. Interception.
Astonishing.
Then, the low point of the game hit for Oregon. For whatever reason, the Ducks decided to abandon Harrington’s dead-on passing and run the football on its first three overtime attempts. No luck.
Then, with a chance to win it in Southern California fashion, place kicker Josh Frankel walked onto the field to attempt a 42-yard field goal. He missed.
Well, maybe that wasn’t so astonishing, but at least the kick was close.
The tension continued to mount in the second overtime. The Ducks capped a passing drive with an Allan Amundson run, as the sophomore ran into the end zone and posted the touchdown. The score marked Oregon’s first lead of the day.
Wow.
But the Sun Devils weren’t done yet. Another touchdown and they lined up for the extra point, ready to take the game into its third overtime.
Fake.
See tight end Todd Heap try to break free. See him dash into the end zone. See Oregon’s Rasuli Webster follow, see the ball fly from Krohn’s hand, see Webster and Heap reach for it with one hand — and then see the ball wisp away from Heap’s fingertips and fall incomplete, once and for all.
The comeback was complete. All across the state, I imagined thousands of Oregonians jumping from their seats with arms raised in triumph, each one with about 10 years less to live after such a suspenseful game.
No Arizona State upset. Oregon is still the Pacific-10 Conference’s only undefeated team. The Ducks still control their own destiny in the Rose Bowl race. They won, despite losing key players and fighting from behind throughout regulation and half of the first overtime.
Which brings me back to my first statement.
Madness.
Unfortunately, the costs of winning were high. It will be tough for Oregon to keep its winning streak alive, considering it could be without key defensive players in the next couple of weeks.
Also, tailback Maurice Morris bruised some ribs and didn’t play in most of the fourth quarter or in the overtimes.
Washington State and California should be easily won games, even with the losses in the roster. However, Oregon State has shown by now it is a force to be reckoned with, and the Ducks will need a full supporting cast if they are to put up a good fight in Corvallis.
Because while Oregon was making an asylum out of Sun Devil Stadium, the Beavers were driving Washington State bonkers at Reser Stadium, blowing the hapless Cougars out by a score of 38-9.
That Oregon State team is off its rocker up there.
But Oregon football? Perhaps nobody can figure it out.