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
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+* 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/
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Grand Opening
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