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Erik R. Bishoff | Online & Photo Editor
Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens (11) looks to bounce back after throwing three interceptions in last week’s 30-24 loss to Indiana, the
season and home opener. Last week, Clemens also threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns.
Ducks now look to upset
Oklahoma on the road
Oregon plays one
of the biggest games
in the programs history
ALEX TAM
SPORTS EDITOR
One of the most anticipated games
in Oregon football history is now
upon us.
After a disappointing 30-24 loss to
Indiana in their season and home
opener, the Ducks (0-1 overall) return
to the field to take on national cham
pionship contender and No. 2 Okla
homa (2-0) in Norman, Okla., Satur
day at 12:30 p.m.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti
said his team’s attitude is still upbeat af
ter its 21-game win streak at home
against non-conference opponents was
broken. The team’s last loss to a non
conference team at home occurred in a
34-16 loss to Utah on Sept. 17,1994.
“We seem to be in good spirits, (al
though) not very happy with our
game against Indiana,” Bellotti said.
“But we’re looking forward to the op
portunity presented with Oklahoma.”
A big question entering the game is
the play of Oregon’s special teams,
which struggled in all facets last week.
Punter Paul Martinez averaged only
20.5 yards on his two pimts against In
diana. The competition at punter was
re-opened this week, Bellotti said
Also, Oregon’s punt returners
fumbled twice in the first quarter
last week, which led to two Indiana
touchdowns.
“Guys that dropped punts have not
dropped any in practice, and they
were our first- and second-string re
turners,” Bellotti said. “We don’t
have a lot choices there, but I think
we can get better.”
Bellotti said his team’s running
game will be one of the keys to an
Oregon victory. Last week, running
backs Kenny Washington and Ter
rence Whitehead totaled 125 yards
rushing against Indiana.
“[Oklahoma is] very active, very
physical,” Bellotti said. “I think having
a successful, efficient running game
will keep them off-balance slightly.”
In the Sooners’ first two victories,
their defense has allowed only 56 yards
rushing. Behind that defensive success
is an experienced, talented and fast de
fensive line led by Dan Cody and
■#»****&•
Danielle Hickey | Freelance Photographer
Oregon fullback Dante Rosario leaps for one of his two touchdowns in last week’s loss.
Rosario also had five receptions for 60 yards in the game.
Jonathan Jackson, who have played a
combined 70 games at Oklahoma.
Their speed on defense is an ele
ment that scares opposing quarter
backs, Bellotti said.
“I think you have to find ways to
protect your quarterback and be cre
ative with protection because there’s
not a lot of big plays against them,”
Bellotti said. “They run very well as
a team on defense.”
Bellotti said more of his younger
players on offense and defense, who
possess a lot of speed, will be
counted upon to contribute mightily
this weekend.
“You have to take correct angles, you
have to use their speed against them in
a sense and you have to match speed
with speed,” Bellotti said. “Some of our
speed is young speed that isn’t doing us
a lot of good on the sidelines.”
Oregon’s defense will be tested
against a high-octane Oklahoma of
fense that has produced 539.5 yards
per game and 51.5 points per game.
Sooners quarterback Jason White,
last season’s Heisman Trophy win
ner, given to college football’s most
outstanding player, is the leader of
the offense. In two games, White has
thrown for 495 yards (247.5 per
game) and five touchdowns.
Bellotti said White’s ability to
avoid getting sacked has been a huge
factor in his success this season.
White, a 6-foot-3 senior, has not been
sacked yet through two games.
/
“Their quarterback is very mobile
and I think it’s very important that we
can keep Jason White in the pocket,”
Bellotti said. “His improved mobility
has added an aspect to the offense that
they didn’t have last year.”
White said his job has been
made easier with great playmakers
around him.
“We have a lot of the same guys
back from last year, so it’s nice to
have them on my team,” White said.
However, White said he knows that
Oregon will be up to task after nearly
coming back to win against Indiana.
“We know that they’ll improve on
their mistakes, and they will be bet
ter,” White said. “It will be a big chal
lenge for us.”
The bigger challenge, though, will
be how Oregon defends the Sooners’
offensive attack.
The running back combination of
freshman Adrian Peterson and junior
Kejuan Jones have totaled 401 yards
and six touchdowns this season.
In a deep receiver corps, senior
Mark Clayton leads the unit after
having caught 12 passes for 196
yards and scoring two touchdowns.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops
said his receivers are relied upon to
produce big numbers week in and
week out.
“All our receivers are very capa
ble of big plays,” Stoops said. “They
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