Yahoo! Sports
Nov 26, 2:41 am EST
Inside Slant
Let’s say, if only for a second, that the annual Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State being played this week was a rivalry battle between two lousy teams going nowhere once the game was over.
The spoils wouldn’t diminish the intensity level much. Bottom line: It’s still the Civil War.
But this Civil War, it comes with high stakes.
This is No. 19 Oregon trying to keep No. 17 Oregon State out of the Rose Bowl. Trying to beat the Beavers on the very same field on which Oregon State whipped Southern California in September. Oregon also has a chance to send itself to the Holiday Bowl.
Yes, this is the Civil War, with feeling.
“It’s Civil War,” safety T.J. Ward said in Tuesday’s Eugene Register-Guard. “It’s easy to match their intensity. It’s a big game. I really don’t need no more motivation than to say we’re playing Oregon State.”
Said coach Mike Bellotti: “We want to win in Corvallis and we want to win the Civil War—for the value of the Civil War, first and foremost.”
OSU is in the position it is in because of that win over USC. Oregon wants to knock its rivals out of that position. It’s really that simple.
Oregon State (8-3, 7-1 Pac-10) is a field goal or so favorite to get that win needed to go to the Rose Bowl. Oregon comes in 8-3, 6-2 and winners of two straight to come into this game ready.
“We’re healthy, we’re rested (after a bye week), but we’re very hungry,” says Bellotti. “I’m going to play that up.”
No need, coach. This is the Civil War.
Notes, Quotes
Scouting The Offense: QB Jeremiah Masoli has come on strong and made this offense his as the Ducks have charged down the stretch. While his numbers aren’t great in road games, consider the 1-2 record and poor overall statistics are largely reflective of a new starter facing USC’s impenetrable defense and another outing in the muck against Cal.
Last year, Masoli was in junior college, winning a national championship, and didn’t play in the Civil War or any bowl game. Last year, the Ducks were mourning the loss of Dennis Dixon to a knee injury and the quarterback parade that followed. Masoli, the Pac-10 offensive player of the week after producing five touchdowns the last time Oregon played, has put an end to that parade.
Jeremiah Johnson didn’t play against Oregon State last year, either, and he and fellow running back Jeremiah Johnson should make life tough for the Beavers’ staunch defense.
Oregon comes into this game No. 6 in the country in rushing, just No. 81 passing but 11th in both total offense and offensive scoring. The Ducks are a less-than-stellar 63rd in the red zone.
Scouting The Defense: The Oregon defense has shown flashes at times this season but remains anything but a sure thing heading into this rivalry game.
But as the week wore on, it looked like Ducks might not have to deal with Oregon State’s Quizz Rodgers, listed as “very doubtful” by his coach. Rodgers’ absence would maker a difference.
The Ducks come into this game a more-than-respectable 32nd in the country against the run, a miserable 101st against the pass, 73rd in both total defense and scoring defense and a dreadful 112th inside the red zone. The opposition has gotten inside the Oregon 20-yard line 43 times this season and scored 40 of those times.
Quote To Note: “The hype surrounding it, the fact that both teams are ranked, both teams are playing for the best bowl game possible and a share of the conference championship that makes it easier in a sense. If you have to manufacture emotion or manufacture excitement that’s the difficulty for a coach. I don’t think I have to do that this week.”—Oregon coach Mike Bellotti on this week’s Civil War with Oregon State.
Strategy And Personnel
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Oregon at Oregon State, Nov. 29—The annual Civil War. This one sends OSU to the Rose Bowl if the Beavers win, and likely sends Oregon to the Holiday Bowl over OSU of the Ducks win. The Beavers are favored by a field goal. Oregon leads the all-time series, 55-46-10, but has dropped the last two games.
Players To Watch:
QB Jeremiah Masoli—He is coming off his second Pac-10 offensive player of the week award, accounting for five touchdowns in the win over Arizona that preceded the bye. Remember, this is a junior college transfer who still has two years left after this one.
RBs LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson—The two-headed monster has to be a major factor in this game at Oregon State as Blount comes into the game needing one rushing touchdown to set the all-time Oregon single season record. Johnson was hurt and missed this game last season. “It’s the Civil War,” says Johnson. “We’re going to be amped. We’re going to be fired up and ready to knock some heads off.”
DE Nick Reed—He had 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over Arizona and is now tied for second place on the school’s all-time list with 48. Saul Patu owns the school record with 53. Reed is also tied with Patu for second place on the all-time school sack list, with 26.5, 2.5 behind Ernest Jones.
Roster Report:
• Oregon coach Mike Bellotti welcomes banged up players back to practice after the bye week and says his of his team, “We’re healthy, we’re rested.”
• CB Walter Thurmond III, G Mark Lewis and DT Tonio Colette were all back at practice and expected to play against Oregon State.
• ROV Patrick Chung and C Max Unger should both make their 50th straight starts Saturday.
• K Morgan Flint, the walk-on, continues to write a great late-season story for the Ducks. He is 4-for-4 on field goals and made all 14 of his extra points.
• QB Jeremiah Masoli’s three touchdown runs against Arizona tied the program record for a quarterback, set previously by Joey Harrington and Kellen Clemens.
• WR Terence Scott had six catches for 87 yards the last time UO played.
• TE Ed Dickson returned from oblivion after one catch in four games against Arizona. He had five catches in the first half, seven for the game. “It feels good to be back,” he said.
• The Ducks have averaged 45 points per game in their eight victories, scoring at least 54 points four times.
No comments:
Post a Comment