University of Oregon
Utah
No. 7 Oregon Defeats Utah, 24-10, In 22nd Straight Home Victory
09/08/01 | Football
By WILLIAM McCALL
Associated Press Writer
EUGENE, Ore. - Joey Harrington is edging into the Oregon record books early in the season, but one of the most important numbers for the quarterback on Saturday was a big, fat zero.
Harrington did not throw a single interception in No. 7 Oregon's 24-10 victory over Utah, and he ended up completing 17 of 27 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
The scoring passes, both to Keenan Howry, put Harrington in a tie with Dan Fouts for career touchdown passes at 37. But Harrington still has nine games to play for the Ducks, who are campaigning hard for a Heisman Trophy for him.
The 6-foot-4 senior had criticized himself for throwing two interceptions last week in a 31-28 comeback victory in the season opener against Wisconsin, a team that intercepted him three times to beat the Ducks last year.
Against Utah, Harrington kept his air game under careful control, hitting his targets precisely - including the 25- and 14-yard touchdown passes to Howry - both in heavy defensive traffic. He also connected nine times with Jason Willis for 107 yards.
"I think it was a good game," Harrington said.
His counterpart, Utah quarterback Lance Rice, agreed.
"Joey is a great player and I think Oregon is a top 10 team," Rice said.
The win was the 22nd straight victory at home for the Ducks, and gave coach Mike Bellotti an 18-2 record in nonconference games.
The last time the Ducks lost a nonconference game at home was to Utah in 1994, the last year Oregon went to the Rose Bowl.
Bellotti praised his Ducks for a solid win on Saturday, but he said Oregon needs to step up the pace to live up to its ranking and talk of a national title.
"I don't know about a national championship," Bellotti said. "We have our hands full from week to week. All we can do is win."
The Ducks led nearly the entire game, except for a brief 10-10 tie in the second quarter.
Oregon (2-0) opened the scoring against Utah just 4:28 into the game with a three-play drive that took only 31 seconds. Harrington found Howry at the corner of the end zone after throwing a 32-yard strike to Willis and a 14-yarder to tight end George Wrightster on the 71-yard drive.
Jared Siegel kicked a 21-yard field goal for the Ducks and Maurice Morris bumped and spun 3 yards for another Oregon touchdown in the second quarter. But the Ducks did not score again until the fourth quarter when Harrington hit Howry for the final touchdown.
Morris ran for 59 yards on 12 carries, while Onterrio Smith had 45 yards on 11 carries - all in the second half due to a one-half suspension Bellotti imposed. No reason was given, but Smith had recently been cited for driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Ryan Kaneshiro opened the scoring for Utah (1-1) on a 21-yard field goal with 3:22 to play in the first quarter. The kick capped a 61-yard, 13-play drive that ate up 7:10 on the clock. The scoring was over for Utah when senior running back Adam Tate, a 230-pounder, knocked several Oregon defenders out of his way on a 3-yard touchdown run with 9:14 to play in the first half.
Except for an interception in the fourth quarter, Rice moved the ball well in the air for the Utes, working wide receivers Cliff Russell and Josh Lyman against Oregon cornerback Steve Smith in a short passing game that kept eating up yards and the clock. Rice was 21-of-39 for 170 yards and the interception.
Russell had seven receptions for 100 yards, and Lyman finished with five catches for 73 yards. Dameon Hunter rushed for a career-high 104 yards for Utah with 25 carries.
Utah had the ball the bulk of the game, in possession for 35:44 to 24:16 for the Ducks, but the rushing and passing yardage was roughly equal for both teams. Oregon rushed for 107 yards on 32 carries, and had 270 yards in the air, while Utah had 121 yards in 35 carries, and 251 yards passing.
Both teams also suffered from costly penalties, including an illegal block that stalled the first drive for Oregon and a false start that stalled the first drive for Utah.
The Utes also hurt themselves with two back-to-back penalties on the final Oregon scoring drive, taking a personal foul for piling on followed by pass interference to sink deep into their own territory.
The Utes never fumbled, and the Ducks lost the ball only once but recovered.
Oregon is off next week before opening Pac-10 play against Southern Cal.
