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Led by middle linebacker Jerry Matson (52) and defensive end Devan Long (also on tackle), the Oregon defense has allowed only 33
points during its last three games. They will be tested against the No.l scoring team in the Conference.
UO anticipates Cal game
with anxious confidence
The Ducks face a top-five
opponent on the road for
the second time this season
BY JON ROETMAN
SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
Saturday’s showdown between Ore
gon and No. 4 California is more than
just a battle for second place in the Pa
cific-10 Conference. It’s a chance for
the Ducks to prove they belong with
the nation’s big boys.
Oregon (5-3 overall, 4-1 Pac-10) with
its revamped defense travels to Memo
rial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., for a re
gionally televised (ABC, 12:30 p.m.)
contest with Cal, whose only loss
came at the hands of top-ranked
Southern California. The Golden Bears
(6-1,4-1) rank at or near the top in al
most every major statistical category in
the Pac-10 and have outscored their
opponents 273-86.
Cal also sports the nation’s fourth
best offense, ninth-best rushing attack
and is ranked No. 14 in total defense.
While the two teams feature equal
conference records, odds-makers
aren’t giving Oregon much considera
tion for a victory. Sportsbook.com lists
the Golden Bears as a 21-point favorite
against the Ducks, who are 0-2 against
ranked opponents this year.
Oregon remains hopeful, however,
with a first-string defense that has al
lowed only one touchdown during the
last 12 quarters.
“Everybody thinks Cal is going to
beat on us,” comerback Aaron Gipson
said. “It really doesn’t matter what
people think or how much they say
we’re going to lose by. It just matters if
we believe we can win. ”
Oregon defenders exuded plenty of
confidence during practice this week,
following a three-week stretch of
dominance. The Ducks have allowed
33 points during the last three games,
with 14 points coming against sec
ond-stringers late in the fourth quar
ter against Arizona. The streak in
cludes a 10-sack performance against
Stanford, where the Ducks held the
Cardinal to minus-8 yards rushing.
Courtesy | California Athletic Department
Cal
quarterback
Aaron
Rodgers has
transformed
himself from a
junior college
transfer into a
Heisman
Trophy candi
date during
two seasons
with the
Golden Bears.
Last week, Oregon held Washington
to a pair of field goals and forced sev
en Husky turnovers.
The defense has compensated for
an offense that has sputtered of late.
After putting up 41 points against
Washington State, Oregon has strug
gled with turnovers and has failed to
cash in on scoring opportunities.
While offensive execution would
greatly increase Oregon’s chance for
an upset, Gipson said it isn’t necessary
for a win.
“It will take a complete effort to beat
Cal,” Gipson said. “But if that doesn’t
happen, I think we can count on our
defense to stop Cal’s offense. On de
fense, I feel like we can do anything
right now.”
Stopping Cal’s offense is easier
said than done. The Golden Bears
feature some of the nation’s top
talent in a system run by head
coach and former Oregon offensive
coordinator Jeff Tedford.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a
Heisman Trophy candidate, who
leads the Pac-10 with a 167.8 pass-ef
ficiency rating. He has thrown for
1,541 yards and 15 touchdowns,
while accounting for nearly 226 yards
of total offense per game.
The junior transferred to Cal last
season after playing his freshman year
at Butte College in Oroville, Calif.
Rodgers emerged as one of the nation’s
best signal callers in 2003 — despite
being all of 19 years old — throwing
for 2,903 yards and 19 touchdowns,
while leading Cal to a victory against
Virginia Tech in the Insight Bowl.
Rodgers’ top target has been All
American wide receiver Geoff
McArthur, who has 32 receptions for
476 yards and four touchdowns. The
senior became Cal’s all-time leader in
PREVIEW, page 5B