GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NCAAF: USC (6-1) at OREGON (6-1)

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 3
OREGON (5) 10 11:58 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF TD USC
PATRICK TURNER 9 YD PASS FROM MARK SANCHEZ
(DAVID BUEHLER KICK)

USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 10 10:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 10 7:46 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF TD OREGON
JONATHAN STEWART 16 YD RUN
(MATT EVENSEN KICK)

USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 17 5:25 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 17 3:06 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
USC (9) 0 3 7 10
OREGON (5) 7 3 7 17 END, 3RD QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: OREGON - TD, DENNIS DIXON 2 YD RUN (MATT
EVENSEN KICK), 12:10. OREGON
7-0
2ND QUARTER: USC - FG, DAVID BUEHLER 30 YD, 4:33.
OREGON 7-3
OREGON - FG, MATT EVENSEN 41 YD, 14:45.
OREGON 10-3
3RD QUARTER: USC - TD, PATRICK TURNER 9 YD PASS FROM
MARK SANCHEZ (DAVID BUEHLER
KICK), 4:07. USC 10-10
OREGON - TD, JONATHAN STEWART 16 YD RUN
(MATT EVENSEN KICK), 9:35.
OREGON 17-10</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF TD OREGON
JONATHAN STEWART 1 YD RUN
(MATT EVENSEN KICK)

USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 24 11:39 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 24 7:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 24 7:14 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 10
OREGON (5) 24 5:03 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF TD USC
DAVID AUSBERRY 19 YD PASS FROM MARK SANCHEZ
(DAVID BUEHLER KICK)

USC (9) 17
OREGON (5) 24 4:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 17
OREGON (5) 24 3:20 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 17
OREGON (5) 24 1:25 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF USC (9) 17
OREGON (5) 24 0:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
USC (9) 0 3 7 7 17
OREGON (5) 7 3 7 7 24 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: OREGON - TD, DENNIS DIXON 2 YD RUN (MATT
EVENSEN KICK), 12:10. OREGON
7-0
2ND QUARTER: USC - FG, DAVID BUEHLER 30 YD, 4:33.
OREGON 7-3
OREGON - FG, MATT EVENSEN 41 YD, 14:45.
OREGON 10-3
3RD QUARTER: USC - TD, PATRICK TURNER 9 YD PASS FROM
MARK SANCHEZ (DAVID BUEHLER
KICK), 4:07. USC 10-10
OREGON - TD, JONATHAN STEWART 16 YD RUN
(MATT EVENSEN KICK), 9:35.
OREGON 17-10
4TH QUARTER: OREGON - TD, JONATHAN STEWART 1 YD RUN
(MATT EVENSEN KICK), 3:21.
OREGON 24-10
USC - TD, DAVID AUSBERRY 19 YD PASS FROM
MARK SANCHEZ (DAVID BUEHLER
KICK), 10:16. OREGON 24-17</div>

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NCAAF
USC (9) 17
OREGON (5) 24 FINAL</div>

 

EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) -- Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewarthave garnered a great deal of attention as the engines forOregon's high-powered offense this year. But it was the Ducks'defense that helped deliver a rare win against SouthernCalifornia.


Dixon accounted for 230 yards of total offense, Stewart ran fora pair of touchdowns and the fifth-ranked Ducks stymied theninth-ranked Trojans on Saturday afternoon en route to a 24-17Pac-10 Conference triumph.


It was the third straight victory for Oregon (7-1, 4-1 Pac-10),which ended its three-game skid against USC (6-2, 3-2). TheDucks improved to just 16-36-2 all-time against the Trojans, wholost in this series for the first time since September 22,2001.


Entering with the nation's second-ranked offense, Oregon grindedout 184 yards on the ground and converted 8-of-15 third downs.

But Oregon's defense, led by safety Matthew Harper, stole theshow in this one. Harper recorded a pair of interceptions,including the game-clinching pick with 12 seconds remaining, andthe Ducks constantly pressured Trojans quarterback MarkSanchez.


Stewart gave Oregon the lead for good with 5:25 remaining in thethird quarter, bruising his way up the middle for a 16-yard TDto make it 17-10.


The Trojans drove the ball to Oregon's 21-yard line on theensuing drive, but Harper intercepted Sanchez on 2nd-and-1 toshift momentum back in the Ducks' favor.


Oregon capitalized on the turnover, as Dixon orchestrated a10-play drive capped by Stewart's one-yard TD plunge that madeit 24-10 with 11:39 left in the contest.


Sanchez hooked up with David Ausberry for a 14-yard scoringstrike to draw USC within 24-17 with 4:44 remaining.

But after forcing a punt, USC saw its comeback bid end indisappointing fashion when Sanchez again was intercepted byHarper on the game's final drive.


Dixon completed 16-of-25 passes for 157 yards and also ran for76 yards on 17 carries. Stewart finished with 101 yards on 25carries for the Ducks, who host fourth-ranked Arizona State nextweek.

 

NCAAF: USC at OREGON

<div class="pre">NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
USC (9) 0 3 7 7 17
OREGON (5) 7 3 7 7 24 FINAL

OREGON-TD, D Dixon 2 YD RUN (M Evensen KICK) 12:10 1st
Qtr
USC-FG, D Buehler 30 YD 4:33 2nd Qtr
OREGON-FG, M Evensen 41 YD 14:45 2nd Qtr
USC-TD, P Turner 9 YD PASS FROM M Sanchez (D Buehler
KICK) 4:07 3rd Qtr
OREGON-TD, J Stewart 16 YD RUN (M Evensen KICK) 9:35 3rd
Qtr
OREGON-TD, J Stewart 1 YD RUN (M Evensen KICK) 3:21 4th
Qtr
USC-TD, D Ausberry 19 YD PASS FROM M Sanchez (D
Buehler KICK) 10:16 4th Qtr


USC OREGON
First downs 18 22
Rushed-yards 33-101 47-182
Passing yards 277 157
Sacked-yards lost 1-6 1-3
Return yards 0 81
Passes 26-42-2 16-25-0
Punts 5-36.4 5-36.4
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-yards 6-80 1-5
Time of possession 30:59 29:01


Individual Statistics

RUSHING: USC-Chauncey Washington 11-42, Joe McKnight 10-34, Stanley
Havili 4-10, Stafon Johnson 3-9, Mark Sanchez 5-6. OREGON-Jonathan
Stewart 25-103, Dennis Dixon 17-76, Geoff Schwartz 1-3, Andre Crenshaw
1-2, Aaron Pflugrad 1-2, - Team 2-MINUS 4.

PASSING: USC-Mark Sanchez 26-41-277- 2, - Team 0-1-0- 0. OREGON-Dennis
Dixon 16-25-157- 0.

RECEIVING: USC-Patrick Turner 7-107, Vidal Hazelton 8-88, Joe McKnight
4-30, David Ausberry 1-14, Fred Davis 1-11, Stanley Havili 3-10,
Stafon Johnson 1-9, Brad Walker 1-8. OREGON-Ed Dickson 5-69, Aaron
Pflugrad 2-28, Jonathan Stewart 2-21, Garren Strong 2-17, Jaison
Williams 1-13, Andre Crenshaw 2-5, Terence Scott 2-4.


Att: 59,277</div>

 

EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) -- Dennis Dixon and Oregon'shigh-powered offense have garnered most of the headlines thisyear. But it was the Ducks' defense that helped deliver a rarewin against Southern California.


Dixon accounted for 233 yards of total offense and safetyMatthew Harper had a pair of crucial interceptions Saturday tolead No. 5 Oregon to a 24-17 triumph over the ninth-rankedTrojans in a contest which indicated a shift of power in thePac-10 Conference.


It was the third straight victory for Oregon (7-1, 4-1 Pac-10),which ended its three-game skid against USC (6-2, 3-2). TheDucks improved to just 16-36-2 all-time against the Trojans, wholost in this series for the first time since September 22,2001.


The consensus preseason No. 1, USC has won at least a share ofthe Pac-10 title in each of the last five seasons. But afterabsorbing their second conference loss this month, the Trojanswill be hard-pressed to retain their crown.


"This was a great win, simply because USC has been theflag-bearer for this conference for the last three years,"Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "I am very proud of our team,especially our defense. This was a defensive victory."

"We played championship defense," Harper added. "We didn't stopuntil the whistle blew, and that's how we won."


Entering with the nation's second-ranked offense, Oregon grindedout 182 yards on the ground and converted 9-of-16 third downs.Ducks running back Jonathan Stewart was outstanding againstUSC's third-ranked defense, rushing for 103 yards and twotouchdowns.


But Oregon's defense stole the show in this one, forcing threeturnovers while constantly pressuring Trojans quarterback MarkSanchez.


"Coach Aliotti (Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti) puttogether a tremendous game plan, and the kids executed it,"Bellotti said. "I am very pleased with our secondary."

The clear star of the secondary was Harper, who recorded hissecond interception of the contest to seal the victory with nineseconds remaining. Sanchez had directed the Trojans to theDucks' 33-yard line with 23 seconds remaining.


But with Oregon needing just one more defensive stop to enhanceits bid for a national title, Harper stepped in front of an openUSC receiver and returned the interception to midfield,prompting a wild celebration at a sold-out Autzen Stadium.

"I acted like I was going to play the outside receiver, wentinside and just made the play," Harper said.


"They walked down the field on us, and we knew we couldn't letthem do it again," Ducks defensive end Nick Reed added. "ThenHarper made a big play."


Stewart gave Oregon the lead for good with 5:25 remaining in thethird quarter, bruising his way up the middle for a 16-yard TDto make it 17-10.


The Trojans drove the ball to Oregon's 21-yard line on theensuing drive, but Harper intercepted Sanchez on 2nd-and-1 toshift momentum back in the Ducks' favor.


Oregon capitalized on the turnover, as Dixon orchestrated a10-play drive capped by Stewart's one-yard TD plunge that madeit 24-10 with 11:39 left in the contest.


"We knew it was going to be a dogfight for four quarters," Dixonsaid. "We worked so hard in the offseason and during theseason for this."


Sanchez hooked up with David Ausberry for a 14-yard scoringstrike to draw USC within 24-17 with 4:44 remaining. But theTrojans came up short, leading coach Pete Carroll to creditOregon's defensive effort.


"Oregon did a great job defensively," Carroll said. "Wecouldn't really get anything going and defensively they were alot better than I anticipated."


Dixon completed 16-of-25 passes for 157 yards and also ran for76 yards on 17 carries. His favorite target was Ed Dickson, whofinished with five receptions for 69 yards.


"We have a lot of people stepping up," Dixon said. "We'reworking as a team, playing snap-by-snap."


"Dennis is more confident in the running game and the passinggame," Bellotti said. "Our team is more confident in him, and Ithink that shows."


Sanchez overcame a sluggish first half to play well in his thirdcareer start. Filling in for the injured John David Booty, theredshirt sophomore went 26-for-41 for 277 yards and two scores.

Patrick Turner had a terrific game for the Trojans, hauling inseven catches for 107 yards and a third-quarter TD.