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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 2000)
Dan Brunell Emerald Tailback Maurice Morris (9) puts up a block for quarterback Joey Harrington (3). Tailback continued from page 7B touchdowns in the Ducks’ last two road games against Arizona State and Washington State, while Mor ris has rushed 31 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns in those matchups. Harrington’s performance last Saturday against Washington State led Cougar head coach Mark Price to call the signal-caller a “damn good quarterback.” “That guy is a player,” Price said. Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti also enjoyed Harrington’s winning ways Saturday. “He came up with some big plays,” Bellotti said. “We did not have a consistent running game to day.” Morris has not rushed for more than 100 yards in a road game this season. The tailback averages 79 yards on the ground in opponents’ stadiums. But don’t forget the season’s earli er home wins against UCLA and Washington, when Morris picked up Harrington’s slack. In those games Morris rushed for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Harrington completed 24 of 56 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown. After those games, Bellotti was singing the praises of Morris, not Harrington. “I’ve been pleased with our abili ty to run the football and contain the running game of our opponents,” Bellotti said after the Washington game. “I think our offensive passing attack can be better. ” While Morris has struggled on the road, Harrington has struggled at home. The quarterback averages 143.8 yards through the air at Autzen Stadium, drastically lower than the 347.5.yards he averages on the road. That means Harrington is nearly two-and-a-half times better on the road than he is at home. The irony of the two-headed monster is that although one key player per game is ineffective, the tactic helps Oregon win. When the Ducks faced an eager to-win Southern California team last month, the Trojans consistent ly packed nine defenders — includ ing star linebackers Zeke Moreno and Markus Steele — on the defen sive line. The strategy helped to contain Morris, who had 85 yards, but opened the way for Harrington, who threw for 382 yards against prima rily single coverage. Against Arizona the following week, Morris broke out for 114 yards when Harrington stalled against the Wildcats’ tougher-than usual passing defense. Morris had 34 carries that game, second only to the 37 he had against UCLA. “He’s a warrior,” Harrington said about his running back. “Morris shows that same sort of toughness [as Reuben Droughns]. He’s out there day in and day out taking a beating, and when you’re a show case running back in a Division I school, you’re going to take a pounding.” So the question on Oregon fans’ minds this week will be: “Who’s next?” Will Morris or Harrington be the superstar to lead the Ducks past California Saturday? Ask Morris whether Saturday will be his game, and he gives you two words. “Oh yeah,” Morris says with a grin. “Oh yeah.” Saturday could be the first time when both pieces of the offense come together. Harrington will be facing the Pacific-10 Conference’s worst pass defense, while Morns will work against the league’s fourth-best rushing defense. The game is, of course, at Autzen Stadium, where Harring ton hasn’t passed for more than 200 yards since the Ducks played Washington State last season. The double threat has yet io meet in the same game, and Satur day the introductions could. be made. Mr. Morris/ meet Mr. Har rington? . 010643 Now is the time to think about taking a PE class this winter. Winter term registration has begun. Non-credit students can register in person in the PE Office, 102 Esslinger. Some of our classes will take place in the Student Recreation Center (The Rec). Aerobic Kick Box 1 PEAE 251 13:00-13:50 MW Cross Training PEAE 340 14:00-14:50 MUWH Action Leadership PEL 199 14:00-15:50 U ** Sp St Breema PEMB 399 13:00-13:50 UH *ybt ^ ■* k»< +* Rock Climbing l PEOL251 14:00-15:50 MW Weight Training PEW 3331 several sections «•“ Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton some sections in the REC PAHS PE Office 102 Esslinger Hall, U of 0 • 346-4113 Check out the PARS Virtual Tour at: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~pars/ Make spre to visit the new Tennis Center Grand Opening 12:00 Noon, Friday November 17,2000 1525 University Street (behind Mac Court) Free Tennis Demonstration & Clinic, Food, Prizes and Fun! Better service than the big chains o Take your business to your locally owned True Value hardware store, where you’ll find no long lines, the best advice around and the service like it ought to he. (And. should you need them, a great selection of... iron links.) Help Is Just Around The Corner I^ZIOLO EUGENE JnMl/a&u HARDWARE B 2825 Willamette • 342-5191 ODE Classifieds... Worth Looking Into!
