Ducks Can't Escape Cougars

Saturday, October 21

Pullman, Wash.

2 p.m.

University of Oregon

5-2 , 3-2

Washington State

5-2 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon

Washington State

Photo by: Associated Press

10/22/06 | Football

Box Score

By: Associated Press

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -Jed Collins caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another score as Washington State upset No. 16 Oregon 34-23 Saturday, dealing a blow to the Ducks' hopes for a BCS bowl appearance.

Collins, a little-used tight end, helped end a scoring drought for the Cougars (5-3, 3-2 Pac-10), and Washington State's defense held the league's top offensive team without an offensive touchdown until midway through the fourth quarter.

Alex Brink threw touchdown passes to Collins and Jason Hill as Washington State fixed red zone problems that plagued it the past two weeks. Brink, from Eugene, Ore., was 20-for-23 for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

Tyron Brackenridge stepped in front of Dennis Dixon's pass on the Oregon 24 and returned it for a score to give WSU a 27-3 margin 26 seconds after Collins' second score.

Dwight Tardy ran for a 1-yard TD to finish the Cougars' scoring late in the fourth quarter. He carried 20 times for 145 yards.

Oregon (5-2, 3-2) got off to a shaky start and Dixon was replaced by Brady Leaf after throwing a second interception. Dixon entered the game averaging nearly 240 yards passing, but was held to 105 yards and no touchdowns.

Leaf threw scoring passes of 4 and 36 yards in the fourth quarter. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 262 yards and two TDs.

Ducks starting tailback Jonathan Stewart, who was averaging 100.5 yards, was held to just 28 on 11 carries. He was spelled by Jeremiah Johnson, who finished with 63 yards on 12 carries as the Ducks, the top rushing team in the conference, were held to 104 net rushing yards.

Defenses dominated a first half that saw sloppy play by both teams. Each lost two fumbles. In one segment in the first quarter, the ball was turned over three times on three consecutive fumbles.

WSU got its first scoring opportunity when Stewart fumbled a pitchout from Dixon and the Cougars recovered on the Oregon 48 in the first quarter. Collins caught an 8-yard scoring pass from Brink, but the point after was blocked.

Oregon took the ensuing kickoff 62 yards before stalling at the Washington State 18. Paul Martinez made a 35-yard field goal to make it 6-3 with 4:49 remaining in the half.

Martinez missed another scoring opportunity in the first quarter when a 51-yard attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field.

Capping a 76-yard drive, Brink hit Hill with a 16-yard scoring pass in the corner of the end zone to take a 13-3 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Collins grabbed a 32-yard pass from Brink to the Oregon 1, then plunged across on the next play to score.

Darius Sanders stripped Brink and returned the fumble 6 yards for the Ducks' first touchdown to start the fourth quarter. The extra point attempt was fumbled, making it 27-9 before Leaf's two fourth-quarter scores.

The Ducks made their third visit to Martin Stadium in three years. Last season, Oregon kicked a last-second field goal to win 34-31.

Oregon is the third ranked team to visit Pullman this season. No. 3 USC won 28-22 on Sept. 31 and No. 11 California was a 21-3 winner last week.

Game Notes

Today's loss is Oregon's first setback in Pullman since 2002. The Ducks' 16 points today are the fewest they have scored in Pullman since a 21-7 loss in 1994. Oregon is now 5-3 in the Palouse under head coach Mike Bellotti.

Wide receiver Jaison Williams had his fourth 100-yard receiving day today (nine catches, 163 yards). The Ducks have now had a 100-yard receiver in six consecutive games.

Backup quarterback Brady Leaf had career-highs in completions (16) attempts (27) and yards (262) today. His previous best of 136 yards was vs. Oklahoma in last season's Holiday Bowl game. Leaf's two touchdowns marks the first time in his career he has had multiple TDs in a game.

Receiver Jordan Kent had a career-best two touchdown receptions today.

Free safety J.D. Nelson had a career-high 15 tackles today and Blair Phillips had a career-best 14.

Redshirt freshman Jairus Byrd got his third interception of the season today. He now has at least one in three of seven games.

Oregon's red zone string was snapped at 17 today. Oregon was 0-for-2 in red zone appearances today after converting on all of its attempts in the previous three games.

The last time the Ducks failed to score a touchdown in the first half was vs. Stanford on October 23, 2004.

After starting the last 16 games as a unit, the offensive line's streak ended today when Jon Teague started in place of Josh Tschirgi.