Oregon Statesman: Ducks look to next road test

One road test down, another one on the way.  Oregon showed its mettle last week with a 54-20 victory at Arizona State, and the Ducks figure to take momentum into Saturday's matchup at California.  "It's a big game because we're playing for the Pac-10 championship," tailback Jeremiah Johnson said before Monday's practice. "Whoever comes up with a 'W' in this game is going to be in a good situation."  No. 23 Oregon, No. 7 USC, Cal and Oregon State have one conference loss apiece. Oregon and USC are tied for first place, one-half game ahead of Cal and OSU. The Ducks can win the outright Pac-10 championship and play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 if they win their last four games and USC loses one conference game.

To stay on course for a title run, Oregon needs to keep its road warrior mentality intact. After the Cal game, the Ducks host Stanford (Nov. 8) and Arizona (Nov. 15) before concluding the regular season Nov. 29 at Oregon State.  Although ASU is struggling — the Sun Devils have lost five consecutive games — a 34-point win on the road is impressive. "It doesn't affect Cal at all, but it does affect our mindset," coach Mike Bellotti said. "I think certainly we have to feel we've passed the first test."  Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli passed a test of sorts as well in the ASU game.  Coming off a 5 of 19 passing performance against UCLA (he rushed for 170 yards), Masoli was 17 of 26 for 147 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. He also ran for a team-high 85 yards and a score as the Ducks amassed 537 yards in total offense.

"I feel like it was great for my confidence and the team in our passing game, just to open it up," said Masoli, who was named Pac-10 offensive player of the week.  In last year's Cal game at Autzen Stadium, both teams came in undefeated. The Bears prevailed 31-24 after Ducks wide receiver Cameron Colvin fumbled the ball out of the end zone in the final minute stretching for the potential tying score. Cal has won two consecutive games in the series. "I wasn't on the team two years ago, but we do owe them for the past two years," middle linebacker Casey Matthews said. It will be a short week for the Ducks, who didn't arrive in Eugene until early Sunday morning after the ASU game. Oregon was coming off a bye week in preparation for the Sun Devils.

NOTE

Place-kicker Matt Evensen was named Pac-10 special teams player of the week. He made 2 of 3 field goals in the ASU game, including a career-long 52 yarder, and was 5 of 5 on extra points. Evensen also had 5 of his 10 kickoffs go for touchbacks.