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| Sunday, October 1 Ducks rewarded with top-10 ranking Associated Press | |||
| EUGENE, Ore. -- Wide receiver Keenan Howry was hoping that
beating two Top-10 teams in a row would finally win the Oregon
Ducks a little recognition.
That's exactly what happened Sunday, a day after Oregon's second
straight conference win over a team ranked No. 6. The Ducks moved
from 20th to ninth in The Associated Press poll.
"Not too many people know what we've got going on up here,"
said Howry, who also handles punt returns for Oregon.
On Saturday, Oregon beat Washington 23-16. The previous week,
another No. 6 team came to Autzen Stadium, and the Ducks sent UCLA
home as 29-10 loser in the Pacific-10 Conference opener for both.
"It's sad when you don't get recognition, but it does motivate
us," Howry said.
Perhaps another understatement.
Oregon led all the way in both the Washington and UCLA
victories, and the Ducks' defense shut down the running game of
both the Huskies and the Bruins.
Washington, which relies on quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo for
much of its rushing yardage, got only 10 yards from Tuiasosopo
against Oregon on the ground. The Bruins did even worse on their
visit to Oregon, traveling backward for minus-9 yards in net
rushing against the Ducks.
"I knew we were going to be better than most people thought we
would be," said Oregon coach Mike Bellotti. "But I thought we
would surprise people."
The only Oregon loss came early this season against Wisconsin,
then ranked fifth. The Ducks led much of the way in that game but
suffered costly mistakes, including 10 dropped passes -- one in the
end zone -- and a blocked punt the Badgers recovered for a
touchdown. Even then, Wisconsin won just 27-23.
The Ducks have been making fewer mistakes since their trip to
Madison, Wis.
Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington did not throw a single
interception, and the Ducks did not lose a fumble, against either
Washington or UCLA.
Even when they make mistakes, the Ducks come back.
Last Saturday, Howry returned the first Washington punt of the
game 70 yards and nearly scored, only to have it called back to the
Oregon 12-yard line on a penalty for an illegal block.
Nine plays later, Harrington hit tight end Justin Peelle on a
quick 13-yard post up the middle to score the first Oregon
touchdown against the Huskies, capping an 88-yard drive.
"We've done some things well," Harrington said.
Howry kept coming back too, almost scoring on two more punt
returns of 35 and 23 yards, only to see them called back on
penalties. But the Ducks kept scoring against Washington, which
fell to No. 13, and Howry even added a tackle to his punt-return
performance, stopping the Huskies when they tried a fake punt on
fourth down.
"I think we still have a lot to prove, but I'm pleased with
where we're at right now," Bellotti said.
Howry points out that Oregon has the best overall conference
record for the past seven years (52-25-0), even better than
Washington (47-27-1), which historically has dominated Oregon and
the two other Pac-10 teams in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon State
and Washington State.
The Ducks still face two ranked teams to finish out the season,
but they have a week off before they head to Los Angeles to play
No. 18 Southern Cal (3-1, 0-1 Pac-10).
The Trojans had been considered an early contender for the Rose
Bowl, but fell from No. 8 last week after losing 31-21 to unranked
Oregon State in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.
The undefeated Beavers (4-0, 1-0), meanwhile, have joined the
Top 25 at No. 23. They will face Oregon in the final game of the
season, a tradition known as the "Civil War."
Howry says he's not worried because he feels like the Ducks have
not shown their full potential.
"We're still not hitting on all cylinders," he said.
His coach agrees.
"Our kids are very, very good," Bellotti said. "But they have
yet to put it all together. And when they do, I'd say watch out." | |||
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