Saturday, November 05, 2005

Sports Network: Leaf's OT TD pass lifts No. 15 Ducks past 23rd-ranked Cal

Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Brady Leaf's four-yard touchdown pass to James Finley in overtime allowed No. 15 Oregon avoid an upset, as the Ducks defeated the 23rd-ranked California Golden Bears, 27-20, at Autzen Stadium. Leaf finished 9-of-13 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown in relief of Dennis Dixon, who struggled in the game, throwing for 139 yards on 15-of-26 passing for the Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Pac-10), winners of five in a row. Terrence Whitehead rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries, while making eight catches for 72 yards in the win. "It was exciting. We just kept fighting. Everybody came together for the win," Whitehead said. Demetrius Williams caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown for Oregon.

Marshawn Lynch paced the California offense as he rushed for 189 yards on 25 carries and a pair of touchdowns for the Golden Bears (6-3, 3-3), who have lost three of their last four games. Joe Ayoob finished with only 88 yards on 10-of-26 passing with three interceptions, while Lynch was his leading target as he caught three passes for 13 yards. Robert Jordan hauled in two passes for 25 yards. "We couldn't fire on all cylinders and compete in the passing game," said California coach Jeff Tedford, "It's unlike us to drop that many balls." No team found the scoreboard in the fourth quarter as Oregon would drive across midfield late in the frame, but be forced to punt with just under two minutes left, giving the Golden Bears the ball at their own 13. California then drove down to the Oregon 37, but Tom Schneider's 54-yard field goal missed left, forcing overtime.  "I sprinted out there as fast as I could, got it up and it started down the middle and then faded slowly," said Schneider of the kick. "It was heart breaking and kind of disappointing."  In overtime, the Golden Bears won the toss, putting the Duck offense on the field first. Leaf's 10-yard pass to Finley kept the drive alive on 3rd-and-2 and Leaf again found Finley three plays later on the four-yard touchdown pass, giving Oregon the 27-20 lead.  California would face a 4th-and-8 on its overtime possession after a two-yard run by Lynch and two incomplete passes by Ayoob, and the quarterback's pass to David Gray fell incomplete, sealing the win for the Golden Bears.  The Ducks ran off 10 straight points in the second half for a 20-10 lead they would not hold.  After Paul Martinez' 49-yard field goal early in the third put Oregon up 13-10, Ayoob would fumble on Cal's ensuing possession, setting up Whitehead's 18-yard touchdown run that extended the Ducks' lead.  However, California battled back to tie the game at 20.  Schneider's 45-yard field goal with 3:31 remaining in the third made it a 20-13 game and Oregon went three-and-out on its following possession. The Golden Bears needed only two plays to find the end zone and tie the contest after Lynch broke off a 52-yard touchdown run with just under one minute left in the third.  Oregon would score first in the contest after a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dixon to Williams capped an eight-play, 54-yard drive with 5:54 left in the opening quarter.  California would even the score with just under two minutes left in the first after the Golden Bear defense blocked Matt Dragich's punt, giving Cal the ball at the one-yard line. Lynch then punched the ball in to tie the game.  Martinez' 29-yard field goal finished a 10-play, 53-yard Duck drive to put Oregon back on top 10-7 less then two minutes into the second quarter, but the Golden Bears would tie the contest again with 44 seconds left in the half after Schneider converted a 21-yard field goal to end a eight-play, 37- yard sequence.  

Game Notes

California leads the all-time series with the Ducks 36-30-2, but have not won in Oregon since 1987...The Golden Bears are 3-2 under Tedord in games following a bye week...Oregon is now 7-1 under head coach Mike Bellotti against California...Finley finished with five catches for 38 yards... Cal's Justin Forsett rushed for 32 yards on six carries.

 

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