One Giant Leap For Ducks

Jed Boice will never be confused with Michael Jordan when it comes to “getting up.”

Not at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds.

But the University of Oregon defensive tackle got all the air he needed to block Anousith Wilaikul’s 39-yard field-goal attempt in overtime to preserve the seventh-ranked Ducks’ 27-24 Pacific-10 Conference win over Washington State Saturday in Martin Stadium.

“I don’t know how much penetration I got, I just know I got a piece of it,” Boice said. “I just pushed through and put my hand up. I don’t jump very high any way, so I don’t think I was up there too high.”

The Ducks had taken the lead on a career-best 47-yard field goal by Josh Frankel.

“We weren’t getting the pressure up the middle like we’d like on the field-goal block,” Boice said. “So what we did is try to put two guys in one gap right next to the center and try to get both of us through, hopefully get a push and one of us can slip through.

“That’s just what happened. Zach Freiter made a great push … and I slipped through.”

Wilaikul’s kick appeared to be low, and Boice got his right hand on the ball.

“I didn’t even turn around and look,” he said. “It felt like I got a great piece of the ball. I knew it wasn’t going 40 yards.”

Dream becomes nightmare

WSU’s Anousith Wilaikul struggled the previous two weeks, including missing potential game-winning kicks against Arizona and Arizona, but all that misery could have been erased against the Ducks.

“I’m out of words. I don’t even know what to say,” Wilaikul said. “It’s been my dream to kick against Oregon … for me to get an opportunity like that and not fulfill it, it hurts bad.”

Wilaikul tried out at Oregon four years ago.

“In ‘96, he was one of the 100 walk-on kickers we had trying out,” Oregon kicker Josh Frankel said. “He was here in ‘96 and he decided to leave and search for another opportunity. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him after the game. That’s the way it goes. I know how it feels.

“I thought he was going to drill it. It was his destiny. I really thought he not only going to make a tying kick but a game-winning kick.”

Down the middle

Frankel, like Wilaikul, has been under fire with only nine field goals in 19 attempts.

His long was 43 yards. But with the strong wind blowing through Martin Stadium, he booted a 46-yarder in the second quarter that gave the Ducks a 16-10 lead. He even felt good when his 42-yarder into the wind in the third quarter fell short.

The credit goes to coach Mike Bellotti.

“He’s a big golfer and kicking is similar to golfing in the fact that if you’re club head’s open or in or whatever, the ball is probably going to go that way,” Frankel said. “We worked on just closing my stance a little bit… . That enabled my foot to be straight instead of turned in.”

Annual occurrence

Once a year, Oregon’s junior cornerback, Rashad Bauman, returns an interception for a touchdown.

This year’s trip to the end zone came with 18 seconds to go in the first quarter when he picked a Jason Gesser pass at the WSU 42.

“It was a three-step drop,” he explained. “The quarterback checked off whatever route they were supposed to run the first time. I kind of figured it was going to be a hitch, so I just took a chance and jumped it, and it just happened to be the right guess.”

Almost home

Garret Graham, a redshirt sophomore from Central Valley High, made his presence felt on Oregon special teams.

The reserve linebacker who played on CV’s 1997 state championship team was credited with three tackles.

“It’s a great time,” Graham said. “It’s a great experience. I enjoy it down in Eugene. Just to be part of this, you can’t ask for much more. However I help the team, I just want to contribute in some way. Special teams is what I’ve got to do.”

Daddy Warbucks

Call it another dramatic comeback for the Ducks.

The University of Oregon and Nike sultan Phil Knight have had a well-publicized falling out that cost the athletic department big bucks.

Apparently the two parties have kissed and made up. Knight watched the game from the suite of UO athletic director Bill Moos.

“It’s obviously great for our program,” Bellotti said. “Phil lends a presence that gives us national recognition and it’s nice to have him back. Whether he ever pledges money or not, it’s nice that he can indulge his passion and be around our players. It’s nice for all of us.”