RSS
Home
Third Quarter: Oregon 21, Washington 10-fading
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Jeremiah Masoli, a 5-foot-11, 208-pound sophomore, is in charge of the Oregon offense after starting quarterback Justin Roper was injured in the first half and couldn't play in the second half because of a head bang. The Ducks already are without Nick Costa, who injured his knee in training camp and is out for the season.
Like Locker, Masoli was a victim of poor hands by his receivers. But credit Ducks' coach Mike Bellotti for having Masoli keeping putting the ball in the air despite the fact that he had never thrown a collegeiate pass. Bellotti even worked in a fourth string quarterback Chris Harper, who ran 13 yards for a first down. That set up a 13-yard touchdown run by Jeremian Johnson for a 21-10 lead with 10:55 left..
Oregon's irst strike needs a Washington response. The pressure is on Willingham and his offensive coordinator Tim Lappano. Jared Ballman is not helping the field position game, as he shanks another punt, just 16 yards to the Oregon 40-yard line midway through the quarter.
The Huskies start their first two third-quarter series at the 8-yard line and 10-yard line. Locker is getting mobbed by the Oregon D-line. Nothing's working.
It's not much better for the Ducks. Masoli can't connect and Harper can't find any room to run. Husky safety Nate Williams nearly intercepts a pass - again another drop - with four minutes left that could have turned things around.
Jairus Byrd may have had the killer play of the game for the Ducks, a 50-yard punt return to the Huskies' 38. The Ducks rolled inside the 15-yard line as the quarter closed.
Desperate times for the Huskies.
