A lack of senior leadership on the Oregon roster a year ago may have been a major factor behind the Ducks’ first losing season in 11 years.
But inexperience no longer pervades the Oregon roster as the Ducks’ 2005 senior class looks to reverse the fortune of last season’s disappointing 5-6 record and restore Oregon’s bowl tradition.
Led by quarterback Kellen Clemens, a three-year starter from Burns, the Ducks (5-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Conference) are one win from bowl eligibility after a road victory against Arizona State, a game in which Oregon fell behind 10-0 early before rallying.
“Instead of hanging their heads or going into a pouting mode, our seniors stepped up and spoke up and said, ‘Hey we’re not going to let this happen,’” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “We did everything necessary to prove that we are a good football team in a hostile environment on the road.”
The Ducks hope the crucial road victory will spark the march to another major bowl game – one similar to the Fiesta Bowl in 2002, the year the current seniors arrived at Oregon as freshmen.
“Last year was disappointing. We underachieved, and it was tough,” senior defensive end Devan Long said. “But I came in with these guys and I’m leaving with these guys and we want to leave the way we came in – with a nice bowl game.”
The distinguished bunch includes, in addition to Clemens and Long, running back Terrence Whitehead, tight end Tim Day, wide receiver Demetrius Williams, cornerback Aaron Gipson, strong safety Anthony Trucks, cornerback Justin Phinisee and offensive guard Ian Reynoso.
“We have to go out with a bang,” said Phinisee, who recorded his second interception of the season last Saturday. “All these seniors, we are hungry for it.”
Whitehead’s play against Arizona State may best reflect the sense of urgency felt by the senior class.
The Los Angeles native finished with 222 yards of total offense and two touchdowns to help the Ducks upset the previously 17th-ranked Sun Devils 31-17. The total yardage helped Whitehead move to seventh, passing Don Reynolds and Terry Obee, on the school’s career all-purpose running list. He now has 3,679 all-purpose running yards in his career.
“I think Terrence has had some games that are fairly remarkable, but that was one of the best I have ever seen,” Bellotti said. “I was very pleased. It’s nice to have him back healthy. We missed him.”
Clemens did his part as well, completing 20 of 39 passes for 278 yards, moving him ahead of Chris Miller and Joey Harrington to third all-time on Oregon’s passing list. Clemens, who tossed two touchdowns in the game, also moved up the total offense list, passing Harrington again. He now ranks third all-time with 7,439 career yards of total offense.
“We’ve seen it; we know what to do, and we just want it,” Clemens said of the seniors. “I think experience goes a long way. We all know what we want to do, and we’ve all got it in the back of our minds what needs to happen, and we just have to go out there and do what we have to.”
One of Clemens’ favorite targets at wideout has been Williams, who leads the team with 36 catches for 680 yards and six touchdowns.
Williams set the record for most career 100-yard receiving games at Oregon with his 108-yard performance against Arizona State. He is fifth all-time on the school’s receiving list with 2,281 career yards.
Another main contributor to the critical win for the Ducks in Tempe was the stingy play of the defense, led by Trucks and Phinisee. Arizona State managed only 53 yards rushing and gained 330 yards of total offense. The Sun Devils entered the game averaging 556.4 yards per game.
“We’re on the right track and we know what we’re capable of. The defense played a tremendous game and our offense fed off of us,” Phinisee said. “But that game is over with, and we’re happy it ended the way it did. Now we have the Huskies.”
Trucks, Evensen earn Pacific-10 honors
Trucks, a strong safety, and freshman walk-on kicker Matt Evensen were named Pac-10 Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for their performances in Oregon’s win against Arizona State last weekend.
Trucks recorded a game-high 11 tackles, 10 solo, including four tackles for losses and three quarterback sacks. He also forced two fumbles and anchored a furious Oregon
defense that sacked Sun Devil quarterback Sam Keller four times and intercepted two of his passes, while holding heralded freshman running back Keegan Herring to 25 yards on 10 carries.
Evensen, a Portland native who kicked in his first game filling in for injured Paul Martinez, booted three key field goals with a long of 51. His other two were from 42 yards. His first attempt, a 55-yarder, was blocked. Evenson also missed a 47-yard attempt later in the game.
Though Bellotti noted that Martinez will resume his kicking duties upon returning from injury, Evensen will continue to perform kickoffs and possibly extra points for the Ducks.
Trucks and Evensen are the fifth and sixth Oregon players, respectively, to garner Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. Martinez, the national leader in field goals, is a two-time selection, while Clemens and linebacker A.J.
Tuitele are the others.
Injury update
Gipson, who leads the Ducks with four interceptions, was held out of last Saturday’s game because of a concussion he suffered during Oregon’s win at Stanford. The senior cornerback practiced this week and, according to Bellotti, is expected to play against Washington.
Linebacker A.J. Tuitele was allowed to run in practice this week after partially tearing his posterior cruciate ligament. Bellotti believes Tuitele will not be cleared for Saturday but may be ready for action against Arizona in two weeks.
Martinez’s status for Saturday’s game is also unknown after the junior kicker suffered a quad strain. He is a game-time decision, but did not kick in practice on Monday.

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