A statement has been made.
Considering that the Ducks struggled to beat a still-winless Utah State squad last week, its surprising — and relieving to many — that the record books were brought into play in Oregon’s 63-28 route of the Wildcats in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday.
At 5-0 overall, the Ducks (2-0 Pacific-10 Conference) have matched their best start in 37 years. With Texas (previously No. 5) and Tennessee (No. 6) losing Saturday, Oregon moved into the No. 5 spot in the Associated Press poll released Sunday.
Oregon’s 63 points also tied a school record for most points in a Pac-10 game and the most Arizona (3-2, 0-2) has ever allowed in a conference match. In 1998, the Ducks defeated Stanford 63-28.
“A lot of people have been talking about us; a lot of people have been saying negative things, that we don’t deserve to be where we are,” senior quarterback Joey Harrington told the Oregonian after the game. “We wanted to make it a point tonight to come out and put some points on the board early.”
Offensively, the stars were everywhere Saturday.
Despite an interception in the Ducks’ first possession, Harrington helped his Heisman Trophy status with six touchdowns, three on the ground and three through the air, in leading the offense to 607 total yards.
Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith became the first tandem at Oregon since 1994 to both rush for 100 yards in the same game. Morris finished with 110 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. Smith had 131 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman Samie Parker, starting in place of Keenan Howry (who played sparingly with sore ribs), led the Ducks with a career-high six catches, including a 38-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.
“Embarrassing,” Arizona receiver Bobby Wade told the Associated Press. “We expected to give Oregon a way better game that we did.”
Entering the game, Oregon’s pass defense was ranked in the bottom-half of the Pac-10. The Ducks, however, will move up in that category after holding Arizona quarterback Jason Johnson to 7-of-15 passing for 132 yards.
The Ducks also capitalized on five Arizona (3-2, 0-2) turnovers, scoring on each extra possession.
Senior linebacker Wesly Mallard grabbed his second interception of the season, recovered a fumble and led the Ducks with seven tackles. Linebacker David Moretti also had a pick, his first of the year.
“Early in the year, we were getting turnovers but we weren’t getting anything out of them,” head coach Mike Bellotti said after the game. “Today, they translated into points, and that’s what good teams do.”
Good teams also come back with pressure, as the Ducks have done time after time.
Harrington and Co. came out on fire, scoring two touchdowns by the 3:38 mark of the first quarter. Arizona, however, put together an impressive, six-play, 86-yard drive late in the first quarter to cut the Ducks’ lead in half.
After a quick three-and-out series for Oregon to start the second quarter, Arizona running back Clarence Farmer — the lone highlight for the Wildcats, rushing for 156 yards in the game — broke free for 87 yards to set up another Wildcat score, tying the game at 14 with 13:38 to play in the first half.
But the ‘Cats’ next sudden move would prove to be their ninth life.
Arizona attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by the kicking team, but just before the required 10-yard line.
Oregon’s ball. Oregon’s game.
Three play later, Harrington hit a wide open Josh Line inside the Arizona 10-yard line, and two plays after that, Harrington ran in three yards for his second score of the game.
Arizona missed on a 51-yard field goal attempt on the next drive, setting up Harrington’s bomb to Parker at 6:09 in the second quarter.
Five minutes later, Harrington hit tight end Justin Peelle for a 17-yard score, Peelle’s sixth touchdown of the season.
Out of the locker room, the Ducks scored on four of their first five possession, ending with Smith’s five-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Backup quarterback Jason Fife, a redshirt sophomore, saw his first action of his collegiate career, finishing 4-of-5 for 46 yards.
Oregon led 63-14 until late in the fourth quarter when Arizona’s third-string quarterback, redshirt freshman John Rattay, led the Wildcats to two scores against the Oregon reserves.
“I still think there’s room for improvement,” Bellotti said. “We have to find a way to improve every single game. That’s been our battle cry.”