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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2000)
Sun Bowl continued from page 1B freshman receiver Keenan Howry for a slidinglO-yard touchdown grab in the right end zone that, coupled with senior placekicker Nathan Villegas’ extra point, gave the Ducks the final margin with one minute, 32 seconds remain ing. But the drama was not yet complete. Minnesota, led by quarterback Billy Cockerham, who would be named the game’s MVP, drove to the Oregon 39-yard line. It was then that senior linebacker Diet rich Moore, he of the big plays and little credit, made perhaps the biggest play of his Oregon ca reer. Moore rushed in from the left side and drilled Cockerham as he cocked back to throw, causing a fumble that junior defensive end Saul Patu pounced on with 41 seconds left to all but ensure a Ducks’ victory. “It was a play designed for me and Matt Smith to come off the edge,” said Moore, who recorded two sacks among his six tackles. “They didn’t have enough guys to block us all.” A few moments later, green and-yellow jubilation covered the field, as Oregon players and fans converged to revel in the glory of the fifth bowl win in school history. In addition to guaranteeing the Ducks a spot in the final top-25 rankings to be released this week, the victory gave Oregon (9 3 overall) a school-record tying win total and the best overall mark in the Pacific-10 Confer ence this season. “This is a great feeling to end this way,” said senior linebacker Peter Sirmon, whose 16 Sun Bowl tackles were surpassed only by Gopher All-American strong safety Tyrone Carter’s 18. Head coach Mike Bellotti praised his defense’s perform ance and his team’s heart. “The defense kept us in the game, and the offense came through when it had to,” said a victory-shower drenched and smiling Bellotti after Oregon’s fifth win of the season by five points or less. “Our kids have a sense of belief that allows us to win these games.” The win also saved the conler ence from being shut out in post season play, as the other four Pac-10 teams in bowl games all lost. “I hope it brings some respect to the Pac-10,” Harrington said. If nothing else, the Ducks as sured Minnesota’s and the Big Ten Conference’s respect. “It was a heckuva college foot ball game,” Gopher head coach Glen Mason said. “One of the best, if not the best, I’ve seen this year.” Neither team led by more than six points in a game that gave 48,757 Sun Bowl Stadium fans and a national television audi ence on CBS all they could ask for. The first half was dominated by the defenses as Oregon proved itself capable of contain ing Minnesota’s vaunted ground attack, and the Golden Gophers flexed their pass defense muscle against the Ducks’ potent passing game. Oregon punted twice and Min nesota once before the Ducks got the first break of the afternoon when senior rover Michael Fletcher intercepted a Cocker ham pass at the Gopher 43 mid way through the first quarter. The Oregon offense, however, was unable to pick up a first down, and Villegas came on for a 52-yard field-goal attempt. But Minnesota rose to the occasion and blocked Villegas’ kick to keep the game scoreless and earn possession at its own 38. Taking advantage of the change in momentum and a 36 yard reception by wide receiver Luke Leverson, the Gophers then took the lead on Cockerham’s one-yard scoring toss to wideout Ron Johnson. Dan Nystrom’s ex tra point gave Minnesota a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, a 16 yard scamper by senior tailback Reuben Droughns was stopped only with a touchdown-saving tackle by Carter, which put the Ducks at their own 49. But the It was a heckuva col lege football game. One of the best, if not the best, I've seen this year. Glen Mason Minnesota head coach drive stalled after a 13-yard sack by defensive tackle Dyron Russ, who would be named the game’s outstanding lineman. After a Minnesota punt was re turned 15 yards by Fletcher to the Gopher 48, Oregon finally ap peared poised to get its offense in gear early in the second quarter. On the next play, Droughns took a handoff and exploded through the left side of the line before cut ting back to the right. Searching for an open alley to the end zone, Droughns slowed inside the 20 with a few downfield blockers in front of him. But all-Big Ten de fensive end Karon Riley made Droughns pay for his indecisive ness, jarring the ball loose from behind, and cornerback Willie Middlebrooks recovered at the 10. Minnesota advanced to the Ducks’ 46 before punting, then got the ball right back as Oregon went three and out. Despite excellent field position at the Duck 41, the Gophers were unable to make Oregon’s sturdy, Sirmon-led defense budge. Sir mon teamed with fellow senior linebacker Nathan Naggi to drop Minnesota tailback Thomas Hamner for a loss of two on third down and force yet another punt. Alas, but the punting was not done. Oregon junior Kurtis Doerr was called upon for his fifth punt of the first half six plays later, as was Minnesota’s Ryan Rindels for his sixth three plays after that. Then, finally, the Ducks got something going. On first down from his own 34, Harrington found Hartley, who hung on for a 37-yard gain to the Gopher 29 despite a big hit. An 11-yard completion to tight end Enyi Nwamuo and a pair of Droughns’ rushes for 13 yards later, Harrington went five yards for Oregon’s first points with 1:11 left in the half. Ville gas’ extra point made it 7-7, which would be the halftime score. After combining for 11 punts and just 14 first downs in the first half, the offenses came to life early in the third quarter. First, Minnesota surprised the Ducks by featuring the pass on an eight-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Cockerham's 38 yard touchdown connection with receiver Arland Bruce. Nys trom, however, missed the extra point to keep the score at 13-7. Oregon responded with an im pressive drive of its own, using a 23-yard reception by Hartley and a 26-yard catch by Howry to get to the Gopher 5. Three plays lat er, the Ducks faced fourth-and goal from the Minnesota 1. Bel lotti gave the go-ahead, and Harrington rewarded his coach with a touchdown dive to cap the 11-play, 69-yard march. Villegas’ extra point put Ore gon on top for the first time, 14 13. Minnesota then went three and out, and Fletcher returned Rindels’ punt 16 yards to-the Duck 49 to shift momentum completely in Oregon’s favor. But three plays later, momentum was slipping away with a fourth-and seven looming. That’s when Bellotti imple mented one of his season-long tricks — a fake punt utilizing Do err’s athleticism. Instead of an option run between the upback and Doerr, however, this play called for Doerr to showcase his arm. Impress Doerr did as he fired a spiral down the right side toward junior receiver Sonny Cook. Min nesota’s Middlebrooks was flagged for pass interference, and the Ducks had first down at the Gopher 33. The drive stalled at the 20, and Villegas entered to convert a 37 yard field goal and give Oregon a 17-13 edge late in the third quar ter. Before the fourth quarter would even dawn, Minnesota was well on its way toward re sponding. Cockerham’s passing again paved the way — high lighted by a 34-yard hookup with Leverson — as the Gophers ad vanced to a third-and-five at the Duck 7 on the first play of the fourth quarter. There, Cockerham and John son combined for their second scoring play on a well-timed and well-placed fade along the right side of the end zone. Nystrom connected this time, and Min nesota had a 20-17 lead. With Droughns in the locker room with leg cramps, the Ducks turned to sophomore tailback Herman Ho-Ching, who carried four straight times for 26 yards to kick-start Oregon’s next drive. When Harrington hit junior tight end LaCorey Collins for a 17 yard gain to the Minnesota 33, the Ducks looked to be in busi ness. Two incompletions and an eight-yard sack later, Doerr punt ed yet again. Sophomore cornerback Steve Smith got Oregon the ball back quickly with a leaping intercep tion along the left sideline at the Gopher 47. But the Duck offense was stymied by the tough Minnesota defense again, and Doerr punted for the seventh time. Once again, Oregon answered the Gophers with a defensive stand of its own, and the Ducks regained possession following a Rindels punt at their own 13. With 7:28 remaining, Harring ton and the Oregon offense went to work. Ho-Ching’s hard run ning and two Harrington comple tions got the Ducks a first down at the Minnesota 43. From there, Harrington threw incomplete, Droughns — reemerging from the locker room and into the game — gained a yard and Harrington’s screen to Droughns was snubbed by Go pher safety Jimmy Henry for a loss of two. Fourth-and-11. About 3 1/2 minutes to play. The Ducks went for it. Harring ton and Hartley coolly delivered, and the rest, as they say, is histo ry “We’ve done that so many times this year,” Harrington said. Minnesota 7 Oregon 0 first downs rushing att. rushing yards passes att. passes comp, passing yards total yards penalties possession time third-down con. fourth-down con. kickoff returns interceptions fumble returns punts 2 3 0 6 7 10 Minnesota 19 35 123 37 19 257 353 5-58 24:35 9-17 0-0 3-67 0-0 1-0 7-323 4 Final 7 20 7 24 Oregon 22 39 186 43 20 232 388 4-25 35:25 6-19 2-2 4-80 2-2 0-0 8-325 Rushing Oregon att Droughns 21 Ho-Ching 9 Tucker 2 Brown 1 Harrington 6 Minnesota Hamner 20 Cockerham 12 Bruce 2 Passing Oregon att-comp-int Harrington 43-20-0 Minnesota Cockerham 37-19-2 Recieving Oregon No* Hartley 7 Howry 3 Droughns 3 Chance 2 Collins 1 Cook 1 Nwamuo 1 Ho-Ching 1 Tucker 1 Minnesota Johnson 7 Leverson 6 Ariand 2 Jones 2 Hamner 2 yds long avg 95 31 4.5 56 11 6.2 10 7 5.0 4 4 4.0 -9 5 -1.5 64 11 3.2 26 14 2.2 8 10 5.0 yds long td 232 37 1 257 38 3 yds long td 113 37 0 54 26 1 -1 5*0 15 8 0 17 17 0 12 12 0 11 11 0 7 7 0 4 4 0 54 13 2 126 36 0 44 38 1 26 18 0 7 5 0