Oregon 31, Washington 28 £( I just want to give [Pat Johnson] a fat kiss on the mouth. ^ Saladin McCullough UO tailback Typically not a big fan of excessive celebration, Saladin McCullough jumps for joy following Oregon’s stunning 31-28 upset over Washington. MARK McTYRE for the Emerald Players, fans seize the moment A wild celebration in the West end of Husky Stadium followed the Ducks’ come-from-hehind victory By Alex Pond Sports Reporter SEATTLE — More than 15 min utes had elapsed since Washing ton quarterback Marques Tuia sosopo was stuffed on fourth down, clinching the Ducks’ 31-28 upset of the No. 6 Huskies. Yet nearly all of the Oregon players remained on the track that surrounds the field in Husky Sta dium, celebrating wildly just be yond the West end zone, the same end zone in which Pat Johnson forever etched his name into the memory banks of Duck fans with his spectacular game-winning touchdown catch on third and 20. Players danced to the tune of the Oregon Marching Band and screamed in ecstasy along with the large contingent of Oregon fans who made the 300-mile trek north from Eueene. Nike magnate and Oregon alum Phil Knight swaggered around in glee, excitedly hugging and high-liv ing several equally as excited Ducks. Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti hugged several of his joyful play ers, including an extra-long em brace with tailback Saladin McCul lough, who little by little pounded his way through the Huskies de fense for 115 yards and a touch down. Bellotti was engulfed by an ear-to-ear grin that brought with it a look of relief and satisfaction. Nobody, neither the team nor the fans, seemed to want to leave the field, almost as if they were waiting for time to freeze so they could en joy the moment for eternity. By the looks of the celebration, it seemed as if the Ducks had just completed their schedule with an undefeated record and had earned a trip to the Rose Bowl with a na tional championship on the line. The truth is, of course, that Ore gon just pulled one game over .500 on the season and still resides in the bottom half of the Pacific-10 Con ference standings with a 2-4 record. But at least for one afternoon, the Oregon coaches and players put that behind them. In all four of the Ducks’ losses this season, the games could have easily gone in the win column if they would have or could have made a crucial play here or got a break there. Just as easily as the game against Southern California could have been a win had Joshua Smith’s field-goal attempt not fallen about a yard short, the game Saturday could have been a loss. But on this day, the Ducks made the key play down the stretch when they had to, namely John son’s touchdown and the ensuing defensive stop. The frustration of a what-if sea son had been lifted, and the play ers were enjoying the moment. “This is the best day of my life — period,” linebacker Peter Sir mon said. miarterDacK axiii i>mnn, wno played his first full game as a Duck and led the good-enough-to-get the-job-done game-winning drive, said it was the type of game he imagined playing in when he signed with the Ducks. “This is Pac-10 football at its finest right here,” he said. "I was looking at the schedule, and I knew that we had three tough ones late, which was USC, Washington and Arizona State, and we went out there and beat them today.” And proved that they could in deed beat an elite team rather than just stay competitive with one. “I don’t know why people are really overlooking us,” Smith said. “ We’ve been in all the games this year—against UCLA, Washington State, Stanford—we’ve been in all the games. I don’t understand why the nation and people in the Pac 10 are overlooking us, but we made a good little statement today that we are a good football team. ” That seemed to be the theme in the Ducks’ locker room following the game—that they had something to prove, and prove it they did. “We came in and proved that our team is something,” McCul lough said. “We proved to them that we are a winning program, and we knocked them off.” Tight end Blake Spence, who contributed on the winning drive with a key 23-yard first-down re ception, agreed. “I’ll remember this one forever,” he said. “I think we proved how we can play. We still faded off in the second half, but we came up with the plays when we needed to. Beg gars can’t be choosers. We won the game, and that’s all we needed.” That’s what they got, thanks to Johnson’s big play, which McCul lough, for one, was especially ec static about. “I just want to give him a fat kiss on the mouth," he said. “I’m so happy for him and just for the whole team in getting the victory. That’s going to go down in history right there.” Usually mild-mannered and one to keep his emotions in check, McCullough was whooping it up with the best of them during the postgame celebration. “I really don’t celebrate like that, but it felt so good I had to,” he said. "I had to tell them ‘y’all take that to the Rose Bowl,’ but I think they’re not even going to go there now. We messed that all up, so I’m happy. I’m real happy. “I want to go home, and I want to watch ESPN and see us on TV defeating Washington.” At least for a night, the Ducks were going to enjoy this one. can make a difference. RECYCLE TODAY! 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