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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- For the first time since 1935, Oregon has
its sixth straight winning season.
After a brief scare from Washington State when the Cougars took
a brief lead early in the first quarter, sophomore quarterback Joey
Harrington took charge to lead Oregon to a 52-10 win that also made
the Ducks (6-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) eligible for a bowl game
appearance.
In his first start for Oregon, Harrington blew away the Cougars
(2-7, 1-5) with three touchdown passes and ran 8 yards for another
score himself.
Harrington finished 15-of-24 for 239 yards, with TD passes of 28
yards to Derien Latimer, 28 yards to Keenan Howry and 52 yards to
Reuben Droughns.
"I think I played pretty well," a smiling Harrington said
after the win.
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti was all smiles himself. "I was very
pleased with his performance," Bellotti said of Harrington.
Washington State starting quarterback Steve Birnbaum and backup
Paul Mencke combined for 275 yards passing, but they each threw a
costly interception, including a 34-yard return by Oregon safety
Michael Fletcher when he grabbed a tipped Birnbaum pass with 6:26
to play in the half.
Defensively, the Ducks held Washington State to just 30 yards
rushing, virtually shutting down Cougars tailback Deon Burnett, who
had just 25 yards on 13 carries.
"I had real confidence in the defense tonight," Bellotti said.
"It's good to have a game that we can enjoy."
For nearly the entire game, Washington State (2-7, 1-5) was held
to Rian Lindell's 25-yard first-quarter field goal, which came
after the Cougars blocked the first Oregon punt of the game.
"I'd say once the dam busts, it busts," said Washington State
coach Mike Price. "That's just the way the game of football is."
Backup quarterback Paul Mencke finally scored for the Cougars
when he connected on a 9-yard TD pass to tight end Josh Shavies
with just 24 seconds to play.
In addition to their TD receptions, Latimer and Droughns each
ran to score, Latimer breaking up the middle for 35 yards at 8:23
into the second quarter, and Droughns from 4 yards out just a
minute later.
Harrington ran for his touchdown from 8 yards out, reversing to
scamper into the corner of the end zone with 9:22 left in the game.
Josh Frankel, who was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points, added
an 18-yard field goal for the Ducks, the only score in a third
quarter dominated by defense.
In a wild finish, Farwan Zubedi recovered an onside kick for the
Cougars with 19 seconds to play, but Washington State receiver
Collin Henderson fumbled a pass reception and Oregon linebacker
Nathan Naggi took it 47 yards for the final score of the game with
only a second left on the clock.
The Oregon win evened the series with Washington State at
35-35-7, but the Ducks are now 17-14-4 in games played in Eugene.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Washington State Clubhouse
Oregon Clubhouse
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