Oregon Hosts Arizona In Final Autzen Appearance Of 2006

You can hear the game in the Salem-area on News-Talk 1430 KYKN AM, and in the Portland-area on NewsRadio 750 KXL.

Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - The University of Oregon football team (7-3 overall, 4-3 Pacific-10 Conference) comes home for its final home game of the season to host the Arizona Wildcats (5-5, 3-4), who are coming off a win over No. 8 California last week.

The Ducks will be looking to remain perfect at home this season as 19 seniors are expected to make their final Autzen Stadium appearance as they look to rebound from a 35-10 loss at USC last weekend.

TELEVISION/RADIO INFORMATION:

LIVE TELECAST: Oregon Sports Network, 11:30 AM (PST) , Joe Giansante, Anthony Newman

LOCAL BROADCAST: Oregon Sports Network, 11:30 AM (PST), Jerry Allen, Mike Jorgensen, Jay Allen

DELAYED TELECAST: Oregon Sports Network, 11:30 PM (PST) Joe Giansante, Anthony Newman

QUICKLY:

• Oregon has won the last seven meetings between the two teams; The Ducks have lost only once to the Wildcats under head coach Mike Bellotti (38-3; 1998), winning 10 of the last 11 meetings.

• The Ducks have never lost to Arizona at home under Bellotti and their last loss to UA at Autzen came in 1986 (41-17).

• Oregon is 5-0 at home this season and dating back to last season have won eight consecutive games; The Ducks’ last home loss was a 45-13 loss to then-No. 1 USC last season.

• The Ducks will be searching for their 13th perfect home slate and their first since 2000.

THE SERIES:

The Ducks are 19-12 all-time vs. Arizona. Oregon is 10-1 vs. Arizona in head coach Mike Bellotti’s tenure. Oregon has won the last six meetings, including the last six in Eugene. In the last five meetings, the Ducks have outscored Arizona, 198-87.

WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR - OREGON IN THE FIRST 10 GAMES:

• Jonathan Stewart has 840 rushing yards this season, surpassing Terrence Whitehead’s total (679) from all of last season.

• Jonathan Stewart has 1,266 all purpose yards...He had over 200 total yards in three games (Stanford, Oklahoma, UCLA) and has rushed for over 100 yards on five occasions.

• The Ducks have been in the red zone 53 times this season and have scored 43 times (81.1%) — 32 TDs, 11 FG

• The Ducks had a 100-yard receiver in seven consecutive games — the most ever in school history -- before having the streak snapped vs. Washington.

• Wide receiver Jaison Williams has five 100-yard receiving games this season and needs one more to break the single-season record. He is currently tied with Damon Griffin (1998) and Pat Johnson (1997).

• Defensively, the Ducks lead the league in pass defense, allowing 145.5 yards per game (fourth nationally), and trail only USC in total defense -- 293.3 avg. -- (26th in the country).

• The Duck defense did not allow an offensive touchdown at Arizona State and held UCLA’s offense to just two field goals until the fourth quarter. Oregon held PSU scoreless in the second half.

• Oregon ranks first in the Pac-10 (11th nationally) in rushing offense (195.9 ypg), first in total offense (fifth nationally) with 446.9 ypg, second in scoring offense, averaging 33.7 points per game (12th nationally) and third in passing offense (251.0 yards per game), 18th nationally.

• Despite ranking eighth in the league in time of possession, Oregon leads the Pac-10 with 252 first downs.

• Oregon is 2-3 on the road this season and 5-0 at home.

SCOUTING ARIZONA:

• At 5-5, Arizona is enjoying its best winning total in the last five seasons.

• With back-to-back wins over No. 25 Washington State and No. 8 California, Arizona has recorded consecutive victories over ranked teams for the first time since 1992.

• The Wildcats rank fourth in the Pac-10 in scoring defense (19.7 ppg), but ninth in total offense (250.3 ypg).

ARIZONA LAST WEEK VS. CALIFORNIA:

Arizona took its first lead early in the fourth quarter and then emerged with a 24-20 victory over No. 8 California last week.

The Bears got the ball at their own 10 yard-line and drove nearly the length of the field in the last several minutes before a third Wildcat interception snuffed out the Golden Bears’ comeback attempt.

UA defensive end Marcus Smith tipped Longshore’s final pass attempt and linebacker Ronnie Palmer intercepted the ball at the UA 18 yard-line at the 1:32 mark.

The Wildcats improved to 5-5, their best winning total in the last five seasons and snapped Cal’s eight-game winning streak, dropping it to 8-2.

The victory over a ranked opponent followed last week’s victory at No. 25 Washington State, gave UA consecutive victories over ranked teams for the first time since 1992 and the birth of the Desert Swarm teams, when UA topped No. 11 UCLA and No. 8 Stanford in October.

Cal sophomore DeSean Jackson lived up to his billing in the first half, with two plays for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Both teams held on the opponent’s first possession, but Jackson took UA’s first punt back 95 yards for the opening score, his fourth scoring return of the year and an Arizona Stadium record.

Arizona took its first lead with 12 minutes left in the game on Antoine Cason’s 39-yard interception return, but California came back and drove 54 yards for a 20-yard field goal by Tom Schneider.

THE LAST TIME - OREGON 28, ARIZONA 21 - TUCSON, ARIZ.:

Recap: Linebacker Brent Haberly returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and No. 15 Oregon beat Arizona, 28-21, despite the Ducks’ top two quarterbacks being knocked out of the game on consecutive possessions.

Blair Phillips, another linebacker, had a sack and recovered another fumble late in the game to stop Arizona’s final scoring threat. Haberly’s play 49 seconds into the fourth quarter on an unforced fumble by Mike Bell came after the Wildcats knocked out Oregon starting quarterback Kellen Clemens and backup Dennis Dixon on consecutive possessions in the third period.

Oregon built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on Clemens’ 54-yard pass to Cameron Colvin, a 69-yard punt return by Justin Phinisee and a 4-yard run by Jonathan Stewart. Arizona’s Willie Tuitama, his redshirt season ended with four games to go, went 18-for-34 and two TD passes and an interception in his collegiate debut. Bell had a season-high 158 yards on 20 carries.

STATISTICAL LEADERS - OREGON:

Rushing: Jonathan Stewart (148 carries for 840 yards, 7 TD, 63 long, 5.7 per carry)

Passing: Dennis Dixon (173 of 280 for 1933 yards, 11 TD, 10 INT, 67 long, 193.3 per game)

Receiving: Jaison Williams (62 catches for 929 yards, 7 TD, 67 long, 84.0 per game)

Tackles: Blair Phillips (90 total, 9.0 for loss of 28 yards)

Sacks: Darius Sanders (6.0 for 50 yards)

Tackles for Loss: Blair Phillips (9.0 for 28 yards)

Interceptions: Jairus Byrd (4 interceptions for 30 yards)

Punt Returns: Jeremiah Johnson (13 returns for 127 yards, 27 long, 9.8 avg.)

Kickoff Returns: Jonathan Stewart (13 returns for 328 yards, 54 long, 25.2 avg.)

STATISTICAL LEADERS - ARIZONA:

Rushing: Chris Jennings (94 carries for 413 yards, 3 TD, 41 long, 45.9 ypg)

Passing: Willie Tuitama (104 of 192 for 1179 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT, 78 long, 147.4 ypg)

Receiving: Syndric Steptoe (49 catches for 526 yards, 1 TD, 48 long, 52.6 ypg)

Tackles: Spencer Larsen (71 total, 7.5 for loss of 19 yards, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles)

Sacks: Louis Holmes (4.0 for 24 yards)

Tackles for Loss: Spencer Larsen (7.5 for 19 yards)

Interceptions: Antoine Cason (3 INTs for 57 yards)

Punt Returns: Syndric Steptoe (19 returns for 255 yards, 13.4 avg., 67 long, 1 TD)

Kickoff Returns: Syndric Steptoe (14 returns for 347 yards, 24.8 avg., 43 long)

SENIOR SALUTE:

Nineteen Oregon seniors, including seven who have been in the football program for five years, will make their final Autzen Stadium appearance with Saturday’s game vs. Arizona.

The longest tenured veterans include Brent Haberly (LB), Drew Larson (WR), Enoka Lucas (C), Parris Moore (DB), J.D. Nelson (FS), Darius Sanders (DE) and Matt Toeaina (DL).

Ducks concluding their fourth year on the squad include Dan Kause (TE/HB), Paul Martinez (PK), Jon Pope (SS), Dante Rosario (TE) and Chris Vincent (RB).

Rounding out the list of those playing in their home finale are Matt Dragich (P), James Finley (WR), Jordan Kent (WR), Aaron Knowles (P), Palauni Ma Sun (OG), Chris Mulvanny (LB) and Blair Phillips (LB).

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