Phew.
In a game that tugged on every possible emotional string, the Oregon Ducks duked it out with the Arizona State Sun Devils in a fight that was fit for heavyweight status.
Oregon’s remarkable — and absurd — 56-55 double overtime victory Saturday in Tempe, Ariz., kept the Ducks (7-1 overall, 5-0 Pacific-10 Conference) unbeaten in league play and marked its 10th consecutive Pac-10 win.
The nail-biting affair also kept Oregon on track for only its second Rose Bowl appearance since Jan. 1, 1958.
“We don’t talk about that much,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “We know we’re in the lead, but this league is as balanced a one as there is. There are no weekends off.”
Saturday certainly proved that as the Ducks fell behind 21-7 and 49-35, before coming back to tie it on both occasions. Oregon finally took its first lead on an Allan Amundson one-yard touchdown run in the second overtime period that put Oregon on top 56-49.
The Sun Devils would answer with a score of its own, but instead of kicking the extra point, they faked it, and attempted a pass for the go-ahead two point conversion. The pass fell incomplete and Oregon’s improbable comeback win was official.
“That point was awesome,” said Oregon linebacker Matt Smith, referring to the last play. “I could relax for a second. I was exhausted, but I went from exhaustion to elation.”
With the win, the Ducks jumped to No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, and remained at No. 7 in the Associated Press poll. The Bowl Championship Series ratings will be released today.
Oregon has three games remaining on its regular season schedule: at Washington State, home against California and at Oregon State in the highly anticipated Civil War.

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