UCLA rolls past hapless Ducks

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 25, 2007

PASADENA -- Down to two redshirt freshmen to play quarterback, the once-mighty Oregon Ducks had absolutely no chance against UCLA.

And with that, their hopes of returning to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day came to an end.

Freshman Kai Forbath kicked three field goals, including a career- long 54-yarder, and the Bruins took advantage of No. 9 Oregon's plight to hand the Ducks a 16-0 setback Saturday -- their first shutout loss in more than 22 years.

Oregon (8-3, 5-3 Pac-10) had been bounced out of the national championship picture Nov. 15, when Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon of San Leandro left in the first quarter of a 34-24 loss at Arizona with a torn knee ligament.

The Ducks lost backup quarterback Brady Leaf late in the first quarter of this game, and young signal-callers Cody Kempt and Justin Roper were unable to generate any offense as Oregon was blanked for the first time since losing 63-0 to Nebraska on Sept. 28, 1985.

The Ducks gained only 148 yards against the Bruins, who snapped a three-game losing streak despite getting only 10 first downs and gaining 220 yards.

The result left No. 11 USC (9-2, 6-2) in position to win its sixth straight Pac-10 championship and play in the Rose Bowl with a victory over the Bruins at the Los Angeles Coliseum next week.

Should UCLA upset USC, Arizona top Arizona State and Oregon beat Oregon State the same day, the Bruins (6-5, 5-3) would get the Rose Bowl bid -- a shocking development considering their recent slump and the possibility that fifth-year coach Karl Dorrell's job is in jeopardy.

Washington State 42,

Washington 35

SEATTLE -- Alex Brink threw for 399 yards and five touchdowns, the last a 35-yarder to Brandon Gibson with 31 seconds left, and Washington State came from behind to win the 100th Apple Cup.

Brink completed 27 of 40 throws in his 40th and final start. He became the first Cougars quarterback to beat the Huskies three times, and set a record for passing yards in an Apple Cup game.

Washington State's career leader in all major passing categories finished his career fourth in Pac-10 history in passing yards -- and may have saved coach Bill Doba's job with the Cougars (5-7, 3-6 Pac- 10).

The 67-year-old Doba is 30-29 in five seasons in the head job but hasn't led the Cougars to a bowl since 2003. WSU spokesman Bill Stevens confirmed the school will have an announcement on Doba's future Monday.

Redshirt freshman Jake Locker returned from a scary neck injury two weeks ago to rush for 103 yards and two touchdowns -- including a 1-yard run that gave Washington (4-8, 2-7) a 35-28 lead with 12:18 remaining.

Locker also threw for 224 yards and a touchdown for the Huskies, who will now try to spoil Hawaii's undefeated season and quest for a Bowl Championship Series bid next week in their finale.