The 107th Civil War is coming to Oregon and Oregon State, and the game has Pacific-10 Conference implications.
The team that comes out of Autzen Stadium victorious Saturday can claim state superiority and a likely No. 3 finish in the Pacific-10 Conference.
“It’s going to be a big game this year,” defensive end Devan Long said. “It decides what bowl we’re going to. It’s going to be exciting.”
The Ducks (7-4 overall, 4-3 Pac-10) secured their 10th-consecutive winning season Saturday with a victory against UCLA.
Oregon’s trip to the Rose Bowl started on the right foot when linebacker Jerry Matson intercepted a pass on the third play of the game. He returned it 22 yards for a touchdown and the Ducks never lost the lead.
Quarterback Kellen Clemens made the most of Saturday’s game. For the first time this season, the starter didn’t relinquish the field to senior Jason Fife until the victory was solidly wrapped up in the fourth quarter.

Senior Samie Parker caught a 40-yard pass for the second score of the game, putting Oregon ahead, 14-0. It was all they needed to reach their eventual 31-13 victory.
Saturday’s game against Oregon State doubles as the Autzen farewell to 14 Oregon seniors, including Fife and Parker.
“This senior class has gone to a bowl game every year, has had a winning season every year, has been to the pinnacle of Oregon football,” head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s certainly been one of the cornerstones in the history of Oregon football. Some of these guys will go down as some of the best players ever to wear the uniform, so it’s with a combination of a little bit of pleasure and a little bit of sadness that I wish them goodbye.”
The seniors will see their home farewell during many players’ favorite game of the season: Civil War.
“I’ve been to just about every Civil War game since I was a young kid, so to be playing in one is a dream come true,” senior fullback Matt Floberg said. “I think there’s just a deeper respect for the game, knowing what it’s all about and growing up in Oregon.”
The past six Civil War games have gone to the home team, with two being decided by a 3-point margin.
Last year, Oregon traveled to Corvallis and returned with a 45-24 loss to the Beavers. This season, the Ducks want a reversal of fortune and to continue the Autzen Stadium winning streak.
“You don’t want to prepare for it any differently,” corner Justin Phinisee said. “It’s a big game, but the big thing is to stay focused with all the hype coming around. Of course you want to have some fun with it, because when you look back when you’re 30, you don’t want to have been all intense about the game; you want to have some fun because it is the rivalry.”
The rivalry game has bowl implications for the Ducks and Beavers. Should Oregon win, they could end up at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, while a loss could send them to the Dec. 24th Las Vegas Bowl.
While the Ducks are keeping bowl possibilities in the back of their minds, for now Oregon is concentrating on finishing the season with a victory against their in-state rival.

“They are playing very good football, and they have the best running back — not just in this conference, but probably in the nation,” Bellotti said. “It’s a very good team that is playing well.”
Oregon State leads the Ducks in every category except passing efficiency and punt and kickoff returns.
“It’s the funnest game to play, regardless of records, just because there’s so much emotion and so much tradition involved,” Matson said. “My best friend’s on the team and we get to play each other. It makes it that much more competitive.”
Oregon State (7-3, 4-2) is coming off a 43-3 home win against Stanford. The Beavers finish their season with a game against USC on Dec. 6.
“I’m always excited every week,” Floberg said. “But there’s a little extra there when it’s Civil War week.”