Redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James forever etched his name into the Oregon record books last weekend in a losing effort to the Stanford Cardinal in Palo Alto, Calif.
James has absolutely torn through opposing defenses during conference play, averaging the second-most yards per game in the Pac-10 with 135.5 in those contests, and will face another tough challenge this weekend against the Arizona State run defense.
After putting up 42 points a week ago, the No. 14 Ducks (7-2, 5-1 Pacific-10 Conference) still remain at the top of the Pac-10 Conference standings for points per game with 36.3, while their top-ranked rushing attack has separated itself from the rest of the league as they’ve scored 26 touchdowns on the ground via 233.6 rushing yards per game. And James has been a key factor since taking over as the starter during week two.
“I haven’t thought about the record,” James said. “It doesn’t matter because we lost. Maybe if we win this week I can think about it more, but the only thing that matters is ASU.”
During last weekend’s 51-42 loss at Stanford, James recorded a career-high 89 yards receiving on four receptions, while also becoming the first Oregon freshman to rush for 1,000 yards on the season.
“He does things each week where you’re just like, ‘Wow,’” head coach Chip Kelly said. “He’s starting to expand his role a little bit in the passing game, I know he had a couple drops, but those things happen and we bounce back from them.”
Junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has also continued to shine both on the ground and through the air, as he’s averaging 285.6 yards per game of total offense and has accounted for 13.5 points per game for the Ducks. And this week in practice, Masoli was one of several veterans at the forefront of a solid rebounding effort by the Ducks after being knocked out of the top-10 last weekend.
“I think that’s something that’s just a trademark of us,” junior quarterback Nate Costa said. “That’s just part of the character of this team, that’s how we define ourselves.”
Last season, Masoli had a field day in Tempe, Ariz., as he threw for 146 yards and a touchdown on 17-of-26 passing. He was also one of eight Oregon players to run the ball in the game as he rushed for 85 yards and another touchdown on eight carries.
But as the Ducks gear up to take on an improved defensive unit from last season, Oregon will have to keep the pace of the game at their optimum level.
“We knew we needed to pick up our tempo and that’s what we’ve done,” junior linebacker Casey Matthews said on Wednesday. “We’ve been practicing hard these past couple days and then tomorrow’s going to be more of a mental day. We know where we need to be.”
In order for the Ducks to continue to move the ball the way they have been in conference play, Masoli and the Oregon receivers will have to exploit a somewhat dinged up Sun Devil secondary that will be playing without senior cornerback Terell Carr.
Last week at Stanford, Masoli threw for a career-high 334 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-27 passing, while four Oregon receivers tallied 40 yards or more through the air. Junior wide receiver Jeff Maehl led the Ducks with five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receivers Jamere Holland and D.J. Davis each pulled down a touchdown a reception as well — Holland’s second in two games and Davis’ second
of the year.
And with Oregon returning to Autzen Stadium for the first time since Halloween night, Kelly says he expects another tough challenge from the Sun Devils this weekend.
“When you get to this point in time during the season, they’re going to do what they do, and we’re going to do what we do, and we’re going to find out who the best is,” said Kelly.
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Coming off a career-high, Masoli keeps offense rolling
Daily Emerald
November 11, 2009
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