Oregon vs. Arizona Football 2009
Rose Bowl Contenders Battle It Out in Tucson
But things will become rather wild if Oregon is defeated in just one of those two games, and the Arizona Wildcats are more than willing to join in on the craziness.
Arizona faces No. 11-ranked Oregon in a Pac-10 Conference football game scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, at Tucson, Ariz. The Wildcats (6-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) are in fourth place in the Pac-10, but still have three conference games left. And if they go 3-0, they're the ones who'll be off to Pasadena, gaining the nod over Stanford and Oregon State as well as Oregon (8-2, 6-1).
But Mike Stoops' Wildcats must bounce back from a 24-16 loss at Cal, and do so against an Oregon team that made an impressive recovery of its own. Chip Kelly's Ducks, who were stunned by Stanford 51-42 on Nov. 7, rebounded to rout Arizona State 44-21 last weekend.
Satuday's 8 p.m., PST game is will be the 35th meeting between the schools, and it will be telecast by ABC. Oregon leads series 20-14, and has won 12 of last 15 — including a 55-45 shootout last year in Eugene, Ore.
Yet Oregon's had some bad luck playing at Tucson. They lost quarterbacks to season-ending injuries in each of their last two games there — Kellen Clemons in 2005 and Dennis Dixon in 2007. Could that be a bad omen for Ducks junior QB Jeremiah Masoli?
Oregon Offense Explosive
Moving against Arizona's stout defense could be a formidable challenge for the Ducks. But they've topped 40 points in its last four games, and their season average of 37.1 points per contest ranks ninth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Kelly's spread-spread option attack is averaging 414.7 yards per game — the rushing attack ranking sixth in the FBS at 237.0.
The crafty Masoli makes it all work, rushing for 558 yards and nine touchdowns, and completing 59 percent of is passes for 1,581 yards and 11 TDs. Masoli, who's been intercepted just three times this season, connects most frequently with tight end Ed Dickson (38 catches, 488 yards, 5 TDs) and wideout Jeff Maehl (34 receptions, 434 yards, 3 TDs).
Oregon's deep running back corps is led by freshman speedster LaMichael James, who's produced 1,193 yards and 11 TDs on 7.0 yards per carry. LeGarrette Blount, the Ducks' leading rusher in 2008, has been reinstated following an eight-game suspension imposed by Kelly. Blount, barred from playing for punching a Boise State player after the season opener, suited up last week but did not see action.
Ducks Defense Back in Groove
The Oregon defense has had two hiccups in 2009 — vs. Purdue and Stanford. But overall, the Ducks have been more than steady, giving up 20.9 poinrs and 311.2 yards per contest. They allowed only 211 to Arizona State last week after being trampled for 505 by Stanford.
Free safety T.J. Ward, Oregon's leading tackler last season, missed five games in 2009 because of ankle injury, but has still managed 46 tackles. The team leader is rover Javes Lewis, who has 66 tackles along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Safety John Boyett and linebacker Casey Matthews are tied for second on the team with 62 tackles apiece, and linebacker Spencer Paysinger is fourth with 58. Cornerback Talmadge Jackson paces the Ducks in interceptions with three, and Kenny Rose is the top playmaker on the defensive line, recording seven of Oregon's 27 sacks, and forcing three fumbles.
Running Back Grigsby Could Be Key for Arizona
If one player made the Oregon defense look silly this season, it was Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who wounded the Ducks for 224 yards and three touchdowns. Arizona doesn't have a bruiser like Gerhart, but they do have a talented runner in Nic Grigsby — if he's healthy.
Grigsby, who rushed for 1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2008, has been hampered by a bad shoulder that's limited him to 548 yards and five TDs this season. He played only briefly vs. Cal, managing a six-yard reception.
But Grigsby is averaging a career-high 7.5 yards per carry, and the junior's effectiveness Saturday could make all the difference. Sophomore Keola Antolin (394 yards, 3 TDs) will likely carry the rushing load if Grigsby's shoulder doesn't hold up.
Wildcats QB Foles Completing Nearly 70 Percent of Passes
The Wildcats, who average 30.4 points and 429.2 yards per game, have a promising young quarterback in Nick Foles. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound sophomore won the starting job before the fourth game of the season.
Foles has hit on 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,736 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's thrown only six interceptions, and he's been well-protected by an offensive line that's given up only seven sacks.
But three of those sacks came vs. Cal, a game in which Foles struggled. He was 25-for-41 passing for 201 yards and a touchdown, with one interception.
Arizona's leading receiver is senior Terrell Turner (42 receptions, 407 yards, 4 TDs). But the Wildcats' most explosive player at the position has might be sophomore Juron Criner (29 catches, 403 yards, 5 TDs). Another threat is David Roberts (33 receptions, 352 yards), 1 TD).
Elmore, Wade Spark Arizona Defense
Like Oregon, Arizona was blistered badly by Stanford's powerful offense. But unlike Oregon, the Wildcats managed to defeat the Cardinal. They won 43-38 on Oct. 17 despite giving up 584 yards.
Mostly, the Wildcats defense has executed well, allowing 22.2 points and only 305 yards per game. Two major sparkplugs have been defensive end Ricky Elmore and cornerback Trevin Wade. Elmore has posted 8.5 sacks among his 34 tackles, and Wade's made four interceptions, broken up eight passes and recorded 46 tackles.
Linebackers Xavier Kelley and Vuna Tuihalamaka pace the Wildcats with 55 and 52 tackles, respectively, and Cam Nelson (50 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) has been stabilizing force from the safety spot. Cornerback Devin Ross (48 tackles) and tackle Earl Mitchell (7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) have also pivotal players.
The Wildcats have delivered 26 sacks, including 12 over the three previous games — three vs. Cal, five vs. Washington State and four vs. UCLA.
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