#2 Oregon @ Arizona

Pregame
The University of Oregon has risen to #2 in the BCS after Ohio State lost last weekend and travels to Tucson, Arizona to take on Mike Stoops' Wildcats. It has been another tough season in the desert, but Arizona feels they have a chance with their newfound offense with quarterback Willie Tuitama who has been playing much better the past few weeks. He'll have to play lights out against a suspect Oregon secondary in order to keep his team in a shootout because Oregon figures to have no problems scoring points themselves if Dennis Dixon is back to 100% healthy.


First Quarter
Oregon gets the ball and is able to drive fairly easily on Arizona before getting stopped at the 39 yard line of the Wildcats. Facing a 4th and 3 the Ducks decide to go for it with Dixon running the read play and keeping it himself for a 39 yard touchdown run where he wasn't touched. His knee looked healthy to me and I'm sure all the Heisman voters. Oregon then decides to line up and go for two and are able to convert successfully there as well. Two and a half minutes in and Oregon is already up 8-0.

On Arizona's first possession they are able to get a short completion before going for the long ball. Unfortunately for the wildcats the pass is easily picked off at the Oregon 43. The Arizona defense needs to do something to get off the field. They do well on the first two downs getting Oregon into another long 3rd down, but Dixon has all day to pass and completes it easily. Oregon is now at the UA 29 after only 3 plays. The Ducks run a reverse to WR Derrick Jones that goes down inside the 5. Dixon makes his first mistake. He has plenty of time to pass but waits a second too long getting the ball to his man Jones in the endzone. Flutie agrees with me that he might have tried to force it and the ball is picked off and returned out to the 45. That's only Dixon's 4th INT of the season.

Arizona really needs to answer here after the big interception. First down is the first running play and only gains a few yards. Second down and they go back to the pass and leave themselves with a 3rd and long. Tuitama picks it up with his legs and gets the ball down inside the Oregon 30 with an 18 yard run. Then Arizona is able to complete a quick WR screen that goes to the house. Oregon 8 - Arizona 7

The two teams then trade field goals to end the quarter, but Oregon has to pay a big cost with Dixon hurting his knee again and early signs say he's out for the rest of the game.
End of the 1st
Oregon 11 - Arizona 10


Second Quarter
Can Oregon do anything without Dixon in at QB? We get the answer quickly with a pick 6 of Brady Leaf for Arizona giving the home team the lead, 17-11 just 15 seconds into the 2nd quarter. The next possession doesn't go much better for Leaf with it ending in the first punt of the game. Arizona with the ball with decent field position and the lead early in the 2nd quarter. They don't get much on their first few plays but a roughing the passer penalty on Oregon gives the drive new life. A few plays later and Tuitama finds Mike Thomas deep for his 2nd touchdown of the game.
Arizona 24
#2 Oregon 11
11:34 left in the half

Oregon needs to go with a steady diet of Jonathon Stewart running the ball. He's easily the best player on the field for the Oregon offense. Sideline report now saying the trainers believe Dixon tore something in his previously sore knee. Oregon listened to me and ran Stewart 2 of their 3 plays, but are unable to pick up a first down again. Arizona looking for another huge score already up 13. Arizona isn't able to capitalize and has to punt for the first time this game. A good punt puts Oregon inside their own 20 trying to come back.

These Oregon receivers are killing Leaf. He isn't playing perfectly, but there have been a number of dropped passes. It could be timing issues, but if you're a major college receiver these are catches you must make. Then on 3rd down the protection breaks down and Leak is sacked for an 8 yard loss. In 18 snaps since Dixon has gone down Oregon has only gained ~40 yards of offense, and Oregon is forced to punt from within their own endzone. WOW. That could be the game. Senior Antoine Cason just returned the punt 55 yards for his 2nd touchdown of the quarter (he had the pick6 earlier in the quarter) to give Arizona a 20 point lead with under 6 minutes to play in the half.
Arizona 31
#2 Oregon 11
5:40 remaining

Oregon really needs to get an answer before the half. Leaf is now 1/6 for 4 yards and an INT. Oregon is only 2/8 on 3rd downs in the game. They are able to convert this one it appears with a quick WR screen. No way Oregon doesn't go for it here if they didn't get it. The Ducks do pick up the 1st down, but the good news doesn't last as the offense ends up moving backwards with another sack of Leaf forcing another punt that travels only 11 yards. Arizona gets the ball back with just over 2 minutes left in the half. The wildcats aren't able to get any points but they take care of the football and run some time off the clock. The punt isn't that great and Oregon will have it at their own 33 with just over a minute remaining before halftime.

Oregon is able to get a few quick yards with short passes to get on the Arizona side of the field before Leaf makes a very dangerous pass that would have been another 6 for Arizona. Leaf is able to make them pay for not making the interception by getting a deep pass inside the Arizona 15. With 33 seconds and 2 timeouts they have to be thinking endzone. Perhaps an ill advised short pass gets nothing for the Ducks and they have to burn a timeout with 25 seconds left in the half. Arizona is able to get right in Leaf's face but unable to bring him down. He gets the pass off but it isn't caught. Cason is right there ready to break on the pass. The 3rd down pass is way too high. Leaf didn't even give his receiver a chance with that one and Oregon is forced to attempt a field goal from 32 yards out and the kick is good. At least Oregon is able to add something, but they still face a huge deficit. Arizona just sits on it to end the half up 17.
#2 Oregon 14
Arizona 31
HALFTIME

Third Quarter
Arizona comes out going for the jugular with a deep pass on first down, but it falls just incomplete. Arizona is still gashing the Duck secondary with quick screens. An illegal hands to the face penalty negates a first down and puts Arizona in a very long 3rd down. A shovel pass gets back 15 of it, but they still are forced to punt. That is a small victory for Oregon who gets the ball back quickly to their struggling backup quarterback.

Oregon's potent offense is nothing without Dixon leading them. Leaf has an intentional grounding penalty that kills any chance of that drive going anywhere. This game has felt like it was over since midway through the 2nd quarter, and Brady Leaf isn't doing anything to change that. Arizona is letting the Ducks stick around by not getting on the scoreboard, but if they do you can go ahead and turn on the cartoons because no way Oregon can score 3 more TDs.

There's the play Oregon needed. Tuitama is flushed out of the pocket and doesn't protect the football and is hit from behind losing the football and giving Oregon the ball inside the Arizona 15 yard line. Oregon has to score here. One play and Stewart finds the endzone. A hold on Oregon brings this one back. The Ducks have realized Stewart is it for their offense and they will give him the ball again on 1st and long. Leaf is limping which totally takes away his effectiveness with the zone read play. On 2nd down Leaf almost throws an interception in the endzone which would be a HUGE dagger. Oregon is only 3/12 on third downs, and they need 13 yards here to keep the drive going. A false start penalty pushes them back even further and Leaf isn't able to get much on his passes with as bad as he's limping around. The Ducks have to settle for another field goal from 34 yards out and again the kick is good. Oregon isn't able to gain anything after the fumble, but they do get more points on the board.

#2 Oregon 17
Arizona 31
9:10 left in the 3rd

The potent Pac10 offenses aren't doing anything in the 3rd quarter against defenses that were being absolutely gashed in the beginning of this game. The teams trade disappointing drives and punts and Arizona has it back with 4:45 left in the 3rd. Arizona tries to put a drive together and does put together a few first downs before again being forced to punt. The Oregon bench is lifeless. This team has been playing without emotion since Dixon went out. Now with an injured Brady Leaf the offense is completely lifeless. Three quick passes that fall incomplete give Arizona the ball back again. Both teams seem to be happy with taking one shot down field before a short rushing gain and then a 3rd down with an incomplete pass before punting the ball away. The 7-0 Miami, OH win last night had just as much offense as this game as had in the last quarter. There's another Arizona punt. Both teams had the ball and punted in under two minutes total. One quarter to go for Oregon's NC hopes.

Fourth Quarter
Looked like it was going to be another 3 and out for Oregon, but Cason jumps the route a little too soon and gets a pass interference penalty called against him. He definitely got to the ball and the announcers think it was a ticky tack call. Still keeps the Oregon drive alive with now under 14 minutes left in the game. The Ducks can't take advantage and just have another 3 and out. And its a fake! Oregon rushes up the middle for a HUGE offensive gain (the longest since Dixon went out in the first quarter). Then Cason, the MVP for Arizona tonight for sure, forces a fumble on the fake punt. Arizona recovers! Fowler wants a review thinking the ground caused the fumble. The ball is out before he hit the ground. What a change in momentum. Oregon finally gets a huge play but after a 41 yard gain the ball is knocked loose giving Arizona the ball back.

The Wildcats get another couple of first downs but punt again. They keep giving Oregon chances, but Brady Leaf hasn't been able to lead his team to touchdowns. Oregon is down to 11 minutes left still down 2 touchdowns. Stewart breaks off two good runs in a row to give Oregon the ball in Arizona territory, but a quick WR screen to Derrick Jones leads to a fumble giving Arizona the ball again. These Oregon turnovers are sick. Looks like his knee was down, but with the Pac10 officials one can never be sure. The play is overturned and Oregon is facing a short 3rd down at the Arizona 39. Stewart fights forward for the first down. This is now easily the best drive Oregon has put together since their first touchdown. They've got a first down inside the 15 yard line with 8:28 left in the game. Stewart is carrying this team on his back. This drive is 16 plays 69 yards and has gone over 4 minutes. No play has gained more than 6 yards, though. They are definitely dinking and dunking their way down the field. Unfortunately for Oregon fans, Stewart was just helped off the field. Oregon has a first and goal at the 3. The backup running back, Andre Crenshaw, gets the carry and rushes for the touchdown. With under 8 minutes to play we've now got ourselves a ballgame again.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 31
7:53 remaining

Okay, Oregon, are you the #2 team in the nation? I know Dixon is out, but this isn't an elite Arizona team. Arizona hasn't scored since the 11:34 mark in the 2nd quarter. There is still a ton of time left in this game, especially since Arizona continues to try and pass which only stops the clock for Oregon. Tuitama is just 1 for his last 8 passes. He finds his TE there for the first down on an important 3rd down for Arizona. WOW. A personal foul facemask goes uncalled against Oregon which should have given Arizona an automatic first down. Instead they end up with a 3rd and 10 that only gains 9 yards. Stoops says go for it on 4th and 1 at the Oregon 36. A tough second effort may have picked up the first down on the off-tackle running play. The chains come in and Arizona does pick up the first down bringing the clock under 5 minutes.

That might be why college football is the greatest sport ever. How quickly fortunes can change. After getting a huge first down on a 4th and 1, Arizona loses the ball when Tuitama tries handing the ball off and it is recovered by Oregon. Reply shows his right knee is on the ground before he was able to hand it off. The fumble should be overturned and given back to Arizona. The Wildcat fans have probably never been happier to have their center step on their quarterback's foot causing him to fall down. Arizona is able to gain a few yards and get the ball to the 29 setting up a 46 yard field goal that is perfect.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 34
3:20 remaining

Oregon still isn't playing with any sense of urgency. Short crossing routes that stay inbounds aren't going to allow them to comeback. An incompletion on 2nd down followed by a short completion on 3rd down sets up a 4th and 4 that could be the ballgame and the BCS for Oregon. Leaf is able to complete a short pass over the middle to pick up the first down. Arizona students are ready to rush the field with 2:06 still remaining. And that should do it. Arizona gets another interception of Brady Leaf to get the ball back with 1:55 remaining. Oregon still has all 3 timeouts remaining, but this one should be done soon.

Arizona picks up a first down, and that's it. Oregon uses their final time out, but Arizona should be able to take a knee and finish this out. The Wildcats punt with 0:14 left in the game giving Oregon the ball at their own 25, but this game is over. A short completion and a deep incompletion end it, and Arizona wins back to back home Pac10 games for the first time since 1998.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 34
FINAL