Playing a team with a mascot sporting horns and a pitchfork just three days after Halloween, the Oregon football team had to know they were going to get a scare in their big Pac-10 showdown with the undefeated Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday. They probably just didn't realize how big that scare would be.
Early in the fourth quarter, Oregon's star QB and Heisman candidate Dennis Dixon darted from the pocket and ran for 11 yards and a first down. At the end of the play, Dixon's leg twisted awkwardly and he immediately clutched at his knee. For Oregon players, coaches, and fans, few Halloween horrors could rival the sight of Dennis Dixon grabbing his knee in pain. Rollicking Autzen Stadium, one of the loudest venues in the country, went instantly silent.
With the Ducks leading comfortably 35-16 at the time, few in the sold-out stadium were in the mood for celebrating as Dixon hobbled off the field. Oregon's senior QB has been an unquestioned team leader this season, and his lethal pass-run threat has fueled the offense to nearly unprecedented heights. As further proof of that, Dixon had thrown for 189 yards and 4 TD's without an interception and rushed for another 57 yards at that point in the game. The vaunted ASU defense simply had not been able to contain him, and he had directed Oregon to five scores and a 19-point lead against the #4 team in the country. To say that the Ducks would be a far less dangerous team without him in the lineup is one of the more massive understatements in college football.
So, when Dixon limped off the field, nearly all of Oregon’s lofty hopes went with him and rested squarely on how badly Dixon's knee had been hurt. Luckily, Oregon's star QB was seen strolling the sidelines without visible pain shortly after and even jogged off the field in the closing seconds of the game as his backup, Brady Leaf, handled things for the Ducks in the final clock-killing drives of the contest. And it's a good thing Dixon's knee injury appears to be only a minor mishap, because Oregon's offense goes from high-octane to garden variety unleaded without him.
As for Oregon's big 35-23 win over the previously undefeated Sun Devils, the tone for the game may have been set on the Ducks' very first play from scrimmage. Boxing legend Roberto Duran had the nickname "Hands of Stone" as a testament to his punishing punching power. Oregon's star-crossed WR Jaison Williams has earned a similar nickname but with a far less positive connotation. Williams has dropped so many passes in his career with the Ducks that his unreliability has nearly become the stuff of legend. However, on the first play from scrimmage against the stout Sun Devils' defense, Dixon found Williams for 43 yards.
Later in the same drive, Dixon found his big WR for a 26-yard score. Just like that, Oregon took a 7-0 lead and established Jaison Williams as a legitimate scoring threat. By the stretching the field early, they also created running space, and on their next drive, they took advantage of that running room by giving the ball to Jonathan Stewart and allowed the big RB to push forward. Between Stewart and Dixon, they ran the ball seven times for 41 yards and set-up a 3rd-and-5 at the ASU 13. And it was Stewart who finished the drive by taking a beautifully executed screen pass and powered his way into the end zone.
With the huge home crowd roaring, Oregon’s defense stopped the Sun Devils on their next drive and forced a punt. However, DB Patrick Chung knocked down the punter for an apparent 15-yard penalty and an ASU first down. It would have been a huge momentum shift, except the Sun Devils were called for an illegal formation as well, and the infraction offset the bigger Oregon penalty. So, the Ducks got the ball back and wasted little time in cashing in on their good fortune.
This time it was all Dennis Dixon. The dual-threat QB ran for 19 yards on three carries and completed all four of his passes on the drive for the other 56 yards, and it was much-maligned Jaison Williams again finding the end zone on a 27-yard strike right down the middle of the field. On the play, Dixon pulled two ASU defenders forward with a terrific pump fake, and Williams ran right by them, wide open. Williams, who finished with five catches for 106 yards and the two big TD’s, was found money for Oregon. So little was expected of him coming into the game that his profound early impact put an exclamation point on just how much was going right for Mike Bellotti’s team in the biggest game of the year.
Just over a minute into the second quarter, the Ducks were up 21-3 and were firing on all cylinders. Conversely, the Sun Devils were in trouble and knew that if they fell behind any further the game was likely over. However, ASU had been on the wrong side of the score at some point in nearly all of their games this year and never withered. Their undefeated season was peppered with big comebacks, so an early 18-point deficit seemed oddly routine to them. And true to that pattern, Dennis Erickson’s team came roaring back.
Even though ASU QB Rudy Carpenter had an injured thumb and the score dictated upsetting the pass-run balance that had been the cornerstone of the Sun Devil’s offense, Carpenter started to get the ball downfield and his receivers started making plays for him. With a TD practically a necessity for ASU, Carpenter delivered. A 31-yard pass to TE Tyrice Thompson down the middle of the field put the Sun Devils squarely on the Oregon side of the field. Four plays later, Carpenter hit WR Michael Jones for a 26-yard score, and ASU had the answer they absolutely had to have.
The score also seemed to energize the Sun Devil defense, because they forced a pair of three-and-outs and recovered a fumble on a third series when Dixon mishandled a play fake. Momentum was shifting, and ASU, who had closed the score to 21-13, had a chance to shorten that gap even further with the ball at the Oregon 49 and just over three minutes left in the first half.
With no timeouts left and the clock ticking, the Sun Devils drove all the way down to the Oregon 13. With under a minute to go and time draining off the scoreboard like so much water escaping from a leaky bucket, Carpenter knocked that bucket over. With a chance for a game-changing TD, ASU imploded. Frantically trying to get a play signaled in from the sideline, Carpenter allowed precious seconds to tick away. When they finally got the play off, it was an odd choice. RB Dimitri Nance was stuffed on an inside run and knocked back two yards. With less than 10 seconds left, Carpenter now spiked the ball and set up a field goal try without having taken a legitimate try for six. As punctuation for the botched red zone opportunity, ASU kicker Thomas Weber missed the field goal attempt, pulling the 32-yard try wide.
The amount of wind that seemed to empty from ASU’s sails in those final seconds of the half never came back. Although they took their first drive of the second half for three points and closed to within 21-16, the huge momentum swing that would have surged their way with a TD, or even another field goal, before halftime had some carryover when it didn’t happen.
And with a chance for Oregon to slam the door shut once and for all, Jonathan Stewart did so – with a running start. Stewart, who finished with 99 yards on 21 carries, broke through the ASU defense and thundered 33 yards for a TD, putting the Ducks back up by 12, the margin that would mark the final score (even after the teams traded late TD’s).
Stewart’s score forced ASU back into a pass-heavy offense, and Oregon’s uneven pass defense had a chance to shine. DE Nick Reed entered the game with 7.5 sacks for the season and has been the only consistent pass rusher for the Ducks for most of the year. Against the Sun Devils, it was Reed who again brought the heat. On a day Oregon sacked Carpenter nine times, Reed registered 3.5 of them (bringing his season total to a Pac-10 leading 11 sacks) and forced ASU to account for him every time Carpenter dropped back to pass.
Although the Sun Devils had moved the ball well all game long, gaining 489 yards in total offense, the combination of the increased pass pressure and the need to fight the clock, the scoreboard, the raucous partisan crowd, and a fired-up Oregon defense finally seemed to catch up with them. Carpenter, who had a truly gutsy performance and balanced all of those sacks and his injured thumb by throwing for 379 yards and 2 TD’s, made the one mistake that sealed things. With ASU again in the Oregon red zone with one last chance to get back into the game, Carpenter was again pressured and made a wild throw on the run. Whether a receiver broke off a pattern or Carpenter made an awful read, the pass fluttered into the end zone right in the middle of three Oregon defenders. Without an ASU player in sight, DB Walter Thurmond III made the easy interception and ended any remaining drama.
With the win, Oregon has played itself right into the National Championship picture. Currently at #3 in the BCS rankings, they have a chance to edge their way into the title game should either team ahead of them stumble. However, thinking that far ahead is deadly in college football these days. Instead, the Ducks just need to keep playing as they have and let the rest sort itself out. A much needed bye week may strengthen that perspective. If nothing else, it is also seven more crucial days for Dennis Dixon’s knee to avoid the rigors of a live football game. And with so much riding on what’s left of Oregon’s season, any thought of the Ducks trying to forge ahead without their star QB leading the way is far scarier than anything seen on Halloween night.
Nooch - great commentary. Like I said the other day...the Ducks look like the best team in the country to me...at this point in time. LSU is winning lucky and that won't last forever. The Ducks are cruising on offense and the defense is making huge plays when they need them. I think right now they are better than anyone and if they played Ohio State on Saturday...the Buckeyes would fall. That said...I know there is a lot of ball left and we have to wait and see...but I like their chances. Go Ducks!!! Oh...and...BOOMER SOONER!!!
Nooooooooch! Nice write-up. You're like, the Ducks beat reporter around here! It's easy for me to say this with my Buckeyes sitting at #1, but I truly hope the thing shakes out this year in such a way so that no one gets shafted. Only time and a few more ball games will tell...
Great review!
That first half closing was a giant momentum killer. I was screaming as loud as I could but nobody heard me.
ASU will (I hope) maintain and win out. I just don't see the pollsters giving them any credit.
Huge win for the Ducks. I was impressed with ASU, especially Carpenter. The guy took an absolute beating but still kept making plays. Very gutsy performance.
Dixon scared the daylights out of me, too. When he grabbed his knee, my stomach dropped. He means so much to this team that any serious injury would have shattered Oregon's season. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I saw him jogging off the field at the end of the game.
And how about Jaison Williams? Where has that big play ability been all season long? His unreliable hands are still scary, but if he can make some plays for the Ducks down the stretch, it will be a bonus.
Stewart continues to impress. With defenses keying on him now, he just keeps powering through tackles. It seemed like everytime he got the ball he'd break initial contact and surge forward. Crenshaw isn't JJ, but I liked the way he was finding space.
And Reed just owned the ASU O-line. I'd like to see someone else on the D-line help him, though. When teams start to double and triple Reed, someone else needs to step up and create pressure. Bringing extra LB's and DB's late in the game helped.
Again, thanks for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback. Go Ducks!
Good to see you, my friend. Thanks so much for the kind words.
Agreed, there is so much football left to be played that anything can happen. That said, I really like the way the Ducks are playing right now. The offense looks seamless with Dixon running the show. Once they get a little momentum going, they look unstoppable. The defense is still maddeningly inconsistent. However, as you mentioned, they seem to make plays at just the right time. Their turnover rate has been impressive this year.
Big win for the Sooners against A&M as well. You had to figure that some of the young players on offense were going to have some growing pains, but they looked great against the Aggies. I think the Sooners are back on a roll are a very dangerous team.
This season has been something else, hasn't it?
Good luck to both of our teams going forward!
Again, thanks for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback.
Hey, any chance I have to bring good news about the Ducks is ok with me!
Agreed, there is a lot of football left, so anything can happen. Agreed also that I hope things play out in such a way that no team gets unfairly left out.
Congrats to your Buckeyes on big wins the last two weeks! Beating Penn State at Happy Valley is never easy and thumping Wisconsin the following week was impressive as well. The Buckeyes look tough right now. I knew the defense was right up there, but the offense is really playing well also.
Good luck to both of our teams going forward!
Again, thanks for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback.
That was a heck o####ame, and the Sun Devils deserve a lot of credit. Carpenter played with such toughness and just kept picking himself up and making plays. The whole team just kept fighting.
Agreed, that swing at the end of the half was a killer for ASU. For as well as Carpenter played, that was a big mistake on that series. If he just spikes the ball on 1st down, the offense has a chance to re-set and they have two shots at the end zone before a field goal try.
Agreed also that ASU isn't getting much credit for hanging tough in one of the toughest venues to play in all of college football against a Top 5 team with a lethal offense.
ASU impressed me. They're a tough team and should continue to make noise the rest of the year.
Good luck to both of our teams going forward! It would be great for the conference to see both the Ducks and the Sun Devils win out.
Again, thanks for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback.
Nooch
That's not exactly the scene that any Ducks' fan wanted to see. But as you said it was close to Halloween and at a time like that anything can happen.
Have I told you lately how much I like your reads? Nothing has changed, man...
I know you're close to the Ducks, any of their injured starters (who have had to sit out) due back after the break? I know they've got a couple of defenders down and then there are a couple of ball handlers. Thought I'd ask.
You're right about Autzen going quiet with Dixon rolling around on the ground holding his knee. That could've spelled disaster.
Agreed, the last thing in the world Oregon fans wanted to see was the team's star QB grabbing his knee in pain. Luckily, it doesn't appear to be serious as Dixon was seen jogging off the field later.
However, that's much more of a scare than anyone wanted to see, Halloween or not!
Thanks for the comments and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback.
Unfortunately, the injuries to key players are all pretty serious. The two WR's, Colvin (broken ankle) and Paysinger (knee), are both out for the year. Ditto for RB Jeremiah Johnson (knee). LB and defensive captain AJ Tuitele (broken foot) is likely out until a bowl game and has an outside chance of playing in that game. I also just found out that LB Jon Bacon is now out for the season after tearing his ACL in the ASU game. That is not good news. The depth at WR and LB is paper thin now.
Luckily, Dennis Dixon is not on that list. Wow, that was definitely a scare! If he was lost to injury, the season would been shattered right then and there. The Ducks have a bye week this week and it will help. Another week for Dixon to shake any soreness out that knee is a good thing.
I just hope the Ducks can this going! It has been an incredible season for them so far.
Again, thanks for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback.
Nooch, Really great stuff! What a shame about Bacon. I really hope that the injury bug has bitten its last. It's kind of tough when guys who seem to wear question marks instead of numbers are being replaced by guys you never heard of. Oh well, lets hope the freshman can play. Makes one appreciate the bulletproof nature of Ngata. We're off to Austin for a business meeting for my wife. At least we'll get to see UH/Fresno on ESPN which will be blacked out in Hawaii and Fresno. (Brilliant) Might be a fun game to watch.
Good to see you, my friend. And thanks so much for the kind words.
Agreed, that was very bad news about Jon Bacon. The guy plays with such heart, it was a shame to see him go out. I recall watching him limping off the field but had hoped it wasn't a serious injury. Then, the big scare to Dixon seemed to overshadow Bacon's status, and I didn't hear anything about it until today.
Hopefully, the young guy who replaced him in the ASU game, Mathews, will learn quickly. He had a sack late in the Sun Devils game, I believe, so hopefully he'll build on that. I think Boyd is kind of a tweener as well, so maybe can play a little LB, too, just as long as he doesn't commit any more foolish late hit penalties.
As you mentioned, that Arizona game is looking scarier all the time, especially with Tuitama playing as well as he has the last two weeks. However, that extra week to prepare and heal up will be invaluable for the Ducks.
Agreed, the Hawaii-Fresno game should be a fun one. I think Colt and company should have things taken care of reasonably early, but the offensive fireworks will be worth price admission. As for ESPN blacking out games in the areas where there is the most interest (I'm guessing as a ploy to get people to buy their Game Plan package) is pretty typical of them. Have you seen their website lately? 90% of the content is reserved for "Insiders". Paying a fee for the privilege of being graced by Buster Olney's wisdom! Really?
Again, thanks so much for the kind words and the visit. I always appreciate the feedback. Go Ducks!
Nooch is a lifelong sports fan who believes that Indianapolis ended up with a slightly better QB than San Diego in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Golden State Warriors may not make the NBA playoffs again in his lifetime (how was I supposed to know that Chris Mullin would make a coaching hire and a mid-season trade that would basically save the franchise?), and that Mike Ivie's pinch-hit, game winning grand slam for the Giants against the Dodgers in 1978 may have been the greatest moment in baseball history.
