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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2004)
■ Game of the week UCLA and ASU face off after difficult losses Both teams suffered losses to top-10 ranked teams, but only one will be able to stop the streak Saturday BY ALEX TAM FREELANCE REPORTER The mood around the UCLA and Arizona State football teams is sheer disappointment after each suffered its first conference loss of the season last weekend. Only one of these teams will get back on the winning track when UCLA (4-2 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Con ference) travels to face off against Arizona State (5-1, 2-1) in Tempe, Ariz., at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will mark the 21st meeting between the two teams and the first since 1999. The Bruins lead the overall series 13-6-1, but have lost the last two meetings, including a thrilling 28-27 loss five years ago. UCLA is now coming off a 45-28 loss to No. 7 California, in which its defense surrendered a whopping 550 total yards of offense to the Golden Bears. Head coach Karl Dorrell said the Bruins are treating last week’s loss as a learning experience amidst a very difficult portion of the schedule that will feature Stanford, Oregon and No. 1 USC to end the season. “The teams we play at the end of the schedule are all very capable of doing great things in the conference,” Dorrell said. “We have to make the improvement that is necessary to win these football games.” The one constant for the Bruins has been the play of their quarterback, Drew Olson. In his past two games, Olson has been nearly flawless, pass ing for 533 yards, eight touchdowns and more importantly, zero intercep tions. His eight touchdowns in two games tied a UCLA record set by Wayne Cook in 1993. “He is doing exactly what we antici pated him doing,” said Dorrell, who is his second season as head coach. “He is at a comfort level where his ability GOTW, page 10B * PAC-10 USC breaks away from pack to claim top spot in Pac-10 Arizona State, California, Stanford, UCLA, Oregon tied for second place in conference BY SCOITI. ADAMS FREELANCE SPORTS REPORTER Last weekend, the number of unde feated teams in the Pacific-10 Confer ence was reduced to one after No.l Southern California trounced No. 21 Arizona State 45-7, giving the Sun Devils a one-way ticket to second place in the conference. Arizona State is now tied with No. 7 California, Stanford, UCLA and Ore gon. The Pac-10 didn’t feature any up sets last Saturday, and this weekend’s matchups suggests a similar result. Re gardless, the number of teams contend ing for second place will be cut in half. No. 7 California (4-1 overall, 2-1 conference) at Arizona (1-5,0-3) Arizona squares off against its highest-ranked opponent of the sea son as Cal heads to Tlicson, Ariz., fresh off of the Wildcats’ home win last week over UCLA. The seemingly challenging Wild cats’ defense was torn to shreds last Saturday against Oregon and will have its paws full this weekend trying to keep pace with Cal’s explosive of fense. Cal senior tailback J.J. Arring PAC-10, page 11B Roetman: A relaxed Clemens hits open receivers Continued from page 8B “I knew (Clemens) could do it, it just took time,” Williams said. “He had to get comfortable, and he’s real comfortable now. He’s making great throws.” Clemens and company will face a tough test at Stanford Saturday. While the Cardinal ranks last in the conference in pass defense (228 yards per game), it has have allowed the second fewest points per game at 16.2 a contest. If Oregon is to move to 3-1 in Pac 10 play, the Ducks need to do more than just move the ball. They need to put the ball into the end zone. That is exactly what Oregon will do. Head coach Mike Bellotti stressed execution with his players during practice this week and has the Ducks playing as a focused team. They know how important this game is and are not taking a much-improved Stanford team lightly. Also, Clemens has shown more confidence in his receivers. Timing patterns with Williams that weren’t connecting earlier in the season are running like a well-oiled machine. Day has proven that if you throw the ball in his zip code — which at 6-foot-4 and 268 pounds is roughly the size of Springfield — he will catch it. The Ducks will capitalize on their red zone opportunities, while Williams and Day will each walk away with a touchdown. Whitehead will benefit from the success of the Oregon passing attack as Stanford is forced to drop eight men into coverage. The junior tailback will rush for 100 yards and a score. Clemens will continue to make good decisions and stay intercep tion free for the sixth straight week. Oh, and 300 yards and three touch down passes aren’t out of the realm of possibilities. The Oregon offense will shine Sat urday as the Ducks work toward sep arating themselves as one of the top teams in the conference. 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