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Oregon Ducks vs Stanford Cardinal Recap

Oregon 's offense came up with yet another superb showing, and a hot ballclub topped the 40-point mark for the third straight weekend. With those two realities in mind, one would have thought that the Ducks would leave Stanford with a still-unblemished record in Pac-10 competition.

Sometimes, however, logical thoughts can't be followed to their normally-anticipated conclusion.

Coach Chip Kelly's spread option attack posted 42 points, 570 yards, and an abundance of high-octane output, but for the first time in 2009, an opponent was able to figure out coordinator Nick Aliotti's UO defense. As a result, one week's conquest of USC was followed by a nine-point setback in Palo Alto, Calif., that abruptly kept the champagne on ice and threw the Pac-10 race into a state of pronounced confusion. If Oregon was the runaway favorite to romp to the Rose Bowl after destroying USC by 27 points on Halloween evening, the Ducks--still the smart choice on the West Coast--now have precious little margin for error.

It's all because the studs from Stanford maxed out and muscled up against Oregon's alarmingly frail front seven.

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The Ducks and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli might have produced video-game numbers in just 22 minutes and 17 seconds of possession, but when Stanford owned the rock, the Cardinal pounded the Pac-10 leaders into submission. Coach Jim Harbaugh's team punched its ticket to a bowl game by punching Oregon in the mouth from start to finish. Quarterback Andrew Luck didn't need any in order to thrive against Aliotti's athletes, throwing for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions while averaging 21 yards per completion. Yet, as good as Luck proved to be under center, Stanford had an even more forceful sledgehammer in its backfield. Running back Toby Gerhart earned a share of Heisman Trophy buzz by wearing out the Ducks for 223 yards on 38 carries. Again and again, Gerhart reared back and came barreling at UO's front seven; again and again, the Ducks--so dynamic and determined in previous joyrides against Cal and USC--had absolutely no answer for Big No. 7 in a crisp red jersey. The result was just over half-a-hundred points for an offense that managed to exceed the Jeremiah Masoli juggernaut while also keeping UO's skill-position studs off the Stanford Stadium turf.

This is life as the big dog in the Pac-10. USC received the best shot of every conference foe over the past several seasons, and now Oregon has learned what it's like to wear a big bulls-eye on its back. The Ducks still lead the Pac, but if they slip up again, the conference title that seemed to be theirs could elude their grasp once more. Why do Roses get dropped? Because they're ever so thorny.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Staff Writer