■ Oregon notes
Ducks make nearly annual
sojourn to Martin Stadium
Kicker Paul Martinez has
made 17 field goals in
only six games this season
BY JEFFREY DRANSFELDT
SPORTS REPORTER
Oregon visits Pullman, Wash., fac
ing a Washington State program that
knows it has nothing to lose. Arizona
State confirmed that with a 27-24
win that eliminated Washington
State’s bowl chances with its sixth
consecutive loss.
“They were not real happy,” Wash
ington State head coach Bill Doba said
afterward. “I imagine it set in, I think
they realize that.”
Oregon has played four of its last
five games against Washington State in
Pullman, Wash. They have won three
of those five games, including a 41-38
win in Oregon’s down season last year
when they finished 5-6.
Washington State quarterback
Alex Brink may not have gone to Ore
gon, but he is a local as a graduate of
Sheldon High in Eugene.
“We have to go and work hard and
battle,” Brink said. “We have some
thing to play for and we need to get a
Pac-10 win.”
Return to action
Oregon placekicker Paul Martinez
returned last week against California
after missing three games against Ari
zona State, Washington and Arizona
due to a thigh injury.
Martinez kicked two field goals, in
cluding a 49-yarder, but missed on a
37-yard kick when he misjudged the
wind. Each field goal gave Oregon
the lead; 10-7 in the second quarter
and 13-10 in the third.
For the season, Martinez has con
nected on 17 of 22 field-goal attempts.
His fill-in during his injury, Matt
Evensen, made four of nine field goals
and had his best game against Arizona
State when he made three including a
51-yarder.
Punting away
For the first time in Pac-10 play,
Matt Dragich punted for Oregon. He
averaged 32.6 yards on seven punts.
The last time Dragich punted was
against Fresno State on Sept. 17.
His most noticeable play might have
been the most game-changing when a
punt was blocked on the one-yard line
Tim Bobosky | Photo editor
Oregon placekicker Paul Martinez kicks one of his two field goals in last week’s 27-20 win
over Cal after missing three games because of an injury.
in the first quarter. Cal running back
Marshawn Lynch ran in a one-yard
touchdown on the next play.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti at
tributed it to a blown assignment that
allowed the defender to get through.
A major reason behind Cal quarter
back Joe Ayoob’s 10 for 26 came from
pressure by Devan Long, who had four
tackles, one for a 2-yard loss.
Games in November
Oregon has normally done well in
the month of November under head
coach Mike Bellotti. In 11 seasons,
Oregon is 22-10 in the final month
of the season. Last season was an
anomaly with no November victo
ries when Oregon finished 5-6.
Oregon has had spotless Novem
ber records in 1995, 1996, 1999 and
2001. The Ducks have had winning
records in all Novembers under
Bellotti, except 2002 and 2004.
The Cougar connection
This year’s contest may hold more
value to quarterback Brady Leaf now
that he’s playing and knowing his
brother used to don a Cougar jersey.
Ryan Leaf led Washington State to the
1998 Rose Bowl. Brady Leaf also had a
cousin, Matt Kegal, who was quarter
back for the Cougars from 2000-02 and
sits ninth all-time on Washington
State’s career passing list with 3,982
yards. Saturday also marks the last
time Devan Long returns to face his
brother Rien Long’s former team. Rien
Long won the Outland Trophy and
played at Washington State from 2000
02. He was selected by the Tennessee
Titans in the fourth round of the 2003
NFL Draft.
jdrans feldt @ dailyemerald. com
■ Pac-10 game of the week
Trojans are not overlooking
their trip to Berkeley this time
Since losing to California in Berkeley in 2003, USC
has compiled a Pac-10 record 31 -game winning streak
With its 27-20 overtime loss to
Oregon, Cal enters as a distinct un
derdog. Three of its last four losses
came by a combined 17 points. In
each game, Cal either had a fourth
quarter lead or were tied at the end
of regulation.
The running back tandem of Mar
shawn Lynch and Justin Forsett is
averaging more than 200 yards com
bined per game — it’s Cal’s passing
offense run by quartefback Joe Ay
oob that is struggling.
Ayoob completed only 10 of 26
passes for 88 yards against Oregon
with just four completions to wide
receivers. He also had three inter
ceptions and a fumble.
Ayoob had an opportunity for a
GOTW, page 9B
BY JEFFREY DRANSFELDT
SPORTS REPORTER
The California football team may
not intimidate USC with its recent
play — losing three of its last four
games — but returning to Memorial
Stadium might.
It is where Cal (6-3 overall, 3-3
Pacific-10 Conference) unceremoni
ously ruined USC’s hopes of a per
fect season in 2003. The difference
this time is USC (9-0, 6-0) brings a
more experienced Matt Leinart and
running backs Reggie Bush and
LenDale White.
USC since then has compiled a 31
game winning streak, 29 straight
weeks as the Associated Press poll’s
top team and 21 straight Pac-10 Con
ference wins.
ABC is televising the game at
12:30 p.m.
“We know our next three games
aren’t easy by any means. And of
course ... we have Cal,” Leinart said
of USC’s schedule including home
games with Fresno State and cross
town rival UCLA. “And we all re
member what happened last time we
were up there.”
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