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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bowl loss doesn’t ruin Ducks’ season

Anne M. Peterson Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. – When Oregon started its football season, there was uncertainty about the team’s new spread-option offense.

Later, there were questions over whether the Ducks could adjust to the loss of quarterback Kellen Clemens.

Finally, there was dismay over a perceived BCS snub.

It was quite a season for Oregon.

Despite the 17-14 loss to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl, the Ducks turned around a 5-6 finish last season to wrap up 2005 at 10-2. It was their best showing since 2001, when Joey Harrington led the team to an 11-1 finish and a Fiesta Bowl victory.

“It was the most amazing and gratifying season I’ve been associated with,” coach Mike Bellotti said. “This group of young men is the best. They love each other. They’ve had each other’s backs, they have found ways to win and they’ve rallied around a second- and a third-string quarterback.

“When we were in trouble, the offense stepped up to score touchdowns to win games. And if they couldn’t do it, special teams would do that.”

The Ducks hired a new offensive coordinator, Gary Crowton, the former head coach at BYU, who installed a spread offense.

The scheme got mixed reviews after Oregon’s season-opening victories over Houston and Division I-AA Montana, but the Ducks eventually embraced it.

In the end, Oregon scored at least 40 points in five games and amassed at least 500 yards of total offense in four. Nationally, the Ducks ranked seventh in passing offense, ninth in scoring offense and 16th in total offense.

The key was Clemens’ intuitive grasp of the system.

Clemens passed for 2,406 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, and was one of seven finalists for the Johnny Unitas Award for the nation’s top quarterback.

Known for his scrambling ability, Clemens left the job ranked fifth in the country in total offense with an average of 329.3 yards a game. He was 17th nationally in passing efficiency.

He threw 61 touchdown passes over his career, one short of Danny O’Neil’s school record set from 1991-94.

His senior season was cut short when he fractured his left ankle in the team’s 28-21 win at Arizona on Oct. 22. The team made him an undergraduate assistant coach, and he helped bring along backup quarterback Dennis Dixon and third-stringer Brady Leaf.

Crowton worked Dixon and Leaf in tandem for the remainder of the season after both showed success guiding the team. Leaf took over in an overtime victory over California and Dixon put together a late drive for a game-winning field goal over Washington State.

While Dixon and Leaf went 3-1 to finish out the year, it is likely that sharing time is over and one will eventually be deemed the team’s No. 1 next season. Whether Leaf hurt his chances with the late interception again Oklahoma remains to be seen.

Oregon’s lone regular-season loss came to top-ranked USC, and the Ducks closed the season with a 56-14 drubbing of Oregon State in the Civil War.

That led to their plea for a BCS bowl, and their disappointment when they were passed over for the Fiesta Bowl in favor of Ohio State and Notre Dame, both 9-2.

With the loss to unranked Oklahoma in San Diego, the argument seems moot.

As for the future, Clemens is preparing for the NFL draft. Junior defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is considering it.

Wide receiver Demetrius Williams wrapped up his senior season with 59 catches for 1,059 yards. Others moving on include cornerback Justin Phinisee, tight end Tim Day, cornerback Aaron Gipson, defensive end Devan Long and strong safety Anthony Trucks.

Oregon returns both Dixon and Leaf, as well as tailback Jonathan Stewart, who had a strong freshman year, sophomore wide receiver Cameron Colvin and junior receiver James Finley.

“I’m proud of our players and proud of what they accomplished this season,” Bellotti said.

Now it is on to next season. A date to note: The Ducks play host to Oklahoma on Sept 16 at Autzen Stadium.