Ducks heading to Pasadena
EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon's thorny start has come up roses.
The Ducks came away victorious from what has been called the biggest game in state history, beating the Oregon State Beavers 37-33 in Thursday night's Civil War matchup.
The Ducks are now headed for Pasadena, Calif., to play in the 96th Rose Bowl, where they'll meet Big 10 Conference champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes. It will be the first Oregon appearance in the "Tournament of Roses" since 1995.
Oregon went into the Civil War game ranked No. 7 in the nation, while the Beavers had entered ranked No. 13. The Beavers had hoped to break a 44-year Rose Bowl drought in Thursday night's matchup but the Beavers will have to wait one more year.
It was the first time in the history of the series that the winner of the game will go to Pasadena for the New Year's Day game, without help from other teams.
Civil War highlights
Redshirt freshman LaMichael James ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night to send Oregon to the Rose Bowl.
Oregon (10-2, 8-1) claimed the Pac-10 championship with the victory, ending USC's seven-season hold on the title. The Ducks, who have not been to the Rose Bowl since 1995, will face Ohio State in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
LeGarrette Blount, who hadn't played since throwing a punch after Oregon's season-opening loss to Boise State, returned to the field and scored on a 12-yard run in the third quarter.
Afterward, fans thrust Roses into his hands.
"This means everything to me," he said. "I'm kind of at a loss for words."
Oregon State (8-4, 6-3) was vying for its first Rose Bowl berth since the 1964 season. The Beavers will have to wait until the rest of the Pac-10 wraps up the season to find out which bowl they will play in.
It was the first time the annual rivalry game was a winner-takes-all path to Pasadena.
After the game the Duck mascot clutched a bouquet of roses as he was lifted above the fans who rushed the field at Autzen Stadium.
Jeremiah Masoli threw for 201 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks, who capped a stunning turnaround from their 19-8 crash in the season opener against the Broncos.
"I think our team has always been capable of this greatness," Masoli said.
Sean Canfield threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns for the Beavers. Jacquizz Rodgers, the Pac-10's second-leading rusher behind Stanford's Toby Gerhart with an average of 119.4 yards a game, rushed for just 64 yards and a score.
Oregon State had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth but Canfield threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-15 from the Oregon 28.
Masoli took over with more than 6 minutes left and ran out the clock with an impressive drive that featured two fourth-down conversions. He absorbed a hit during a 6-yard scramble on fourth-and-3 and pitched it to Kenjon Barner to set up a 4-yard run on fourth-and-2 that allowed the Ducks to finish it off.
It was a disappointing end for Oregon State, which hung tough for much of the night behind Canfield, Rodgers and his older brother, James.
Justin Kahut kicked three field goals in the first half, Jacquizz Rodgers had a 1-yard run for his school-record 20th rushing TD this season and James Rodgers had a 28-yard touchdown reception with 14 seconds left in the half to give the Beavers a 23-21 lead.
Masoli hit Jeff Maehl for a 73-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. Maehl has caught a scoring pass in the past three Civil Wars.
Canfield's 9-yard TD pass to Casey Kjos made it 30-21 early in the third before Blount sparked Oregon's comeback. He had a 12-yard score to pull the Ducks within two points and finished with 51 yards rushing.
Blount was suspended for the season after he punched Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the aftermath of the Ducks' loss on Sept. 3. He missed eight games, but was kept on scholarship and allowed to practice with the team.
Blount was reinstated in mid-November after meeting certain academic and behavior conditions set by coach Chip Kelly.
"Last home game at Autzen Stadium, and he's a senior," James said about Blount. "I'm happy for him."
Kahut's fourth field goal made it 33-28, but James had a 52-yard scoring run late in the third. Oregon's 2-point conversion failed, and Morgan Flint kicked a 34-yard field goal with 10:13 left for the final margin.
"You have to have a short memory in this game," Masoli said. "You can't let a start get to you."
It will be Oregon's fifth trip to the Rose Bowl. The Ducks have not won the Pac-10 championship since the 2001 season, which they went to the Fiesta Bowl.
Last season Oregon State was headed to the Rose Bowl with a victory in the Civil War. But the Ducks came to Reser Stadium and romped to a 65-38 victory. The year before, the Beavers visited Autzen and won 38-31 in the second overtime.
"It's tough to swallow," Canfield said of missing out on a trip to Pasadena for the second straight season. "I said earlier it was such a great football environment, everything I thought it would be. I'm just disappointed."
Civil War Facts & Figures
Oregon has a nine-game winning streak at Autzen Stadium, considered one of the loudest venues in the Pac-10. Oregon State practiced with piped-in noise this week to prepare.
The Ducks have also won eight straight Pac-10 games at home. Their last loss at Autzen came in the 2007 Civil War, when the Beavers won 38-31 in double OT.
Oregon State has lost only eight turnovers in 11 games. The team has lost only two fumbles all season.
Series record: Oregon leads 56-46-10.
Last meeting: Oregon, 65-38
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