It wasn’t always pretty. In fact, the first quarter was downright ugly, but in the end the Ducks began the 2005 football season having won the most important stat — a 38-24 victory over the University of Houston.
After allowing 21 first-quarter points, the Oregon defense gave up only three points in the final three quarters, a 43-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the game.
The most important defensive stop came nearly five minutes into the second half. The Ducks snuffed out a fourth and short passing play inside their own 10-yard line, forcing Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb out of the pocket to eventually throw the ball away.
The Oregon offense answered with a nine-play drive that covered 91 yards to score the game-winning touchdown.
The key play came when Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens, who accounted for 420 yards, found a gap in the Houston defense and ran 43 yards down the sideline before being tackled inside the one-yard line. Backup quarterback Dennis Dixon scored the next play on a quarterback sneak.
Clemens guided the Oregon offense to 554 total yards, completing 30 of 47 attempts for 348 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think we moved the ball really well,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “The offensive line protected Kellen very well, (allowing) no sacks and that was a huge improvement over last year. It is one of the things that we had targeted.”
Clemens said the offense “just clicked” and the tempo was a key factor in the outcome.
“We had an increased tempo to keep the pressure on their defense,” Clemens said. “Toward the end of the game we got a little tired; I think they were really tired and that helped us out. I think the tempo was a big aspect of today’s game.”
The Ducks trailed 21-17 at the half; however, cornerback Aaron Gipson reversed the momentum in the third quarter with an interception on Houston’s first series of the half. Gipson returned the ball to Houston’s side of the field, where Oregon eventually turned it into a field goal.
Several fresh faces broke out with billboard performances, including wide receiver James Finley, running back Jonathan Stewart and kicker Paul Martinez.
Finley tied an opening-game school record with 10 receptions for 95 yards. Stewart, a highly touted blue chip recruit, rushed for 47 yards on 5 attempts. His longest covered 33 yards, but it was the 25 yards he gained while carrying tacklers that electrified the crowd. And Martinez, who was Oregon’s punter two seasons ago, tied a school record in his kicking debut, making five of six field goal attempts.
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