Ducks let their play do the boasting
In a crowded interview room that oozed luxury from every gold-plated nook and
high-tech cranny, Keith Lewis said everything without saying anything.
Oregon's flamboyant senior free safety navigated a post-Civil War media horde
wearing a burnt-orange T-shirt that read "Oregon State Beavers."
Not just any orange shirt, mind you, but a ruffled model that was intended
to look as if it had lost a fraternity flag football game or two...Jeff
Welsch, Gazette Times
Down for the count
Once again, the ground-pounders did the grunt work to win the Civil War.
A heretofore undistinguished Oregon running game pounded Oregon State into
submission inside and flanked the Beavers repeatedly in a convincing 34-20 triumph
on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
A sellout crowd of 58,102 roared their approval all game long as Oregon (8-4,
5-3) steamrolled the Pacific-10's second-stingiest rushing defense for a season-high
218 yards on the ground and held OSU to a net 24 on 26 carries...Brooks
Hatch, Gazette Times
Ducks take advantage of OSU penalties
Oregon learned a very valuable lesson in the Civil War just one year ago.
It learned the game is won between the hash marks, not with the mouth.
The Ducks (8-4, 5-3 Pac-10) were penalized 13 times for 105 yards in that 45-24
loss in Corvallis, but in the 107th edition of the Civil War, Oregon was flagged
two times for 30 yards...Don
Smalley, Gazette Times
Ducks set ground rules
The best offense wore yellow. The best defense wore yellow.
Which means that Saturday, the best team in the 107th Civil War wore yellow
-- blinding yellow. The glow seemed more natural, though.
Oregon put the finishing touches on a remarkable regular season turnaround
by beating Oregon State 34-20 in front of 58,102 at Autzen Stadium...Ryan White, Oregonian
Ducks take on top Pac-10 defense, public opinion
Nick Steitz knew public opinion was wrong. On Saturday, Steitz and the Oregon
offensive line proved it.
Dogged by criticism that the Ducks couldn't run the football because the offensive
line couldn't do the job, the team's behemoths outmatched the best defense in
the Pacific-10 Conference on the way to Oregon's 34-20 victory over Oregon State
at Autzen Stadium.
The result: Oregon rushed for 218 yards, converted on eight of 16 third-down
chances and put to rest a week of woofing that Oregon State's defense would
cut the Ducks' run down cold...Abby
Haight, Oregonian
This Duck deserves a hug of confidence
Canzano: Ludwig appeared to be UO's fall guy EUGENE A whistle blew. The Civil
War ended. And Oregon students rushed onto the Autzen Stadium field and hugged
each other.
They hugged because they were happy.
They hugged because they were winners...John
Canzano, Oregonian
Missing ground game, missed chance hurt OSU
The Ducks were ready to play, and the Beavers did almost everything wrong when
it counted the most. What else is there to say about Saturday's numbing 34-20
loss at Autzen Stadium?
When the 107th Civil War was over and Oregon players began celebrating, OSU
was left with injuries, excuses, and probably no prayer of knocking off USC
in the final game of the season unless the Trojans fall asleep.
"We've got to try and shock the world," OSU strong safety Lawrence Turner said...Paul
Bunker, Oregonian
Oregon 34, Oregon State 20
Keith Lewis not only broke his silence, he made a fashion statement, too.
Silent in the week leading up to the 107th Civil War, Oregon's free safety
sported an Oregon State T-shirt after the Ducks downed the Beavers 34-20 Saturday.
"I figure since their apparel is now so cheap, and I got this off the
clearance rack, I'd wear it," he said...Anne
M. Peterson, Associated Press
Ducks, Clemens ground Beavers 34-20
Kellen Clemens threw for three touchdown passes, but his ability to run the
ball was every bit as important to the Oregon Ducks Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Oregon's sophomore quarterback hit paydirt via the air when it counted, but
his ability to avoid the rush was also a crucial weapon in the Ducks' 34-20
Civil War victory.
"He was definitely a factor," OSU coach Mike Riley said. "I don't
think they did anything particularly great with the passing game."..Kerry
Eggers, Portland Tribune
'Dazzling Ducks' again
Rich, cool and 8-4.
Not to mock the "Dazzling Ducks" Sports Illustrated cover of Sept.
29, but if you had told the University of Oregon football team and its fans
that it would lose half of its games after that historic win over Michigan on
Sept. 20, they wouldn't have liked that much.
Or believed it...Mark
Baker, Register Guard
UO grabs place in the sun
Everywhere, there were answers for Oregon.
To balance Oregon State tailback Steven Jackson, the Ducks had a pair in Terrence Whitehead and Kenny Washington. To stem that OSU offense that leads the Pac-10
in total yards, Oregon had a defense that held it off, with six quarterback
sacks and two interceptions by Steven Moore and a couple of stalwart stands
with backs to the goal...Bob
Clark, Register Guard
Victory personifies how far these Ducks have come
The story isn't just where Oregon is today, 8-4 overall, tied for third in the
Pac-10 Conference, glorious victors over Oregon State in Saturday's Civil War,
34-20, and almost certainly bound for a bowl of some stature, the Sun Bowl.
No, no, no.
The story is where Oregon has been, because where the Ducks are now is remarkable,
even special, only in the context of where they were...Ron
Bellamy, Register Guard
Defense confounds OSU
The Oregon defense wanted to contain OSU tailback Steven Jackson and confuse
Beavers quarterback Derek Anderson in Saturday's Civil War.
The Ducks were able to do both in their 34-20 win over the Beavers, in part
because their defensive line balanced shutting down Jackson with pressuring
Anderson, allowing the linebackers and secondary to play farther off the line
of scrimmage.
"We were going to try to not give up big plays, and with our line, we
were able to do that most of the time," UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti
said. "When you can bring four-man pressure and drop seven, that's the
best of both worlds."...Rob
Moseley, Register Guard
Beavers penalized for mistakes
It was tough to take, the Beavers admitted, but they knew exactly how and why
Oregon had done a 34-20 Civil War number on them Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Penalties. Inability to run the football. Field goals instead of touchdowns.
Special teams.
Oregon State, the Pac-10's nasty guys, were flagged nine times for 86 yards,
under their average of 115 yards but way more than the two for 30 yards pinned
on the Ducks...Bob
Rodman, Register Guard
Ducks scramble the game plan on offense
Mike Bellotti said that Kellen Clemens "really came of age today."
The Oregon football coach added that his quarterback "became the captain
of the ship."
Offensive lineman Nick Steitz had a different title for Clemens after Oregon's
34-20 win over Oregon State on Saturday at Autzen Stadium...Steve
Mims, Register Guard
Ducks soar to win
Unaware that coach Mike Bellotti had entered the postgame interview room, Oregon
quarterback Kellen Clemens said he looked forward to having the next “three
or four weeks off.”
After all, Clemens and his teammates earned a break after Saturday’s
34-20 victory in the 107th Civil War at Autzen Stadium.
Bellotti joked that the layoff wouldn’t last that long...Gary
Horowitz, Statesman Journal
Penalties costly for Beavs
Oregon State has a reputation for being one of the most penalized teams in college
football.
The Beavers were flagged for 86 yards on nine infractions in Saturday’s
Civil War loss.
And the frustration is flowing...James Day, Statesman Journal
Freshman from Dayton is key
Fullback Dante Rosario made the most of his first Civil War appearance.
A 15-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Kellen Clemens gave the Oregon
a 28-13 lead with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Not bad for a true freshman from Dayton High School...Gary
Horowitz, Statesman Journal