Leaf lifts Oregon over Cal

EUGENE, Ore. – Brady Leaf’s first career touchdown pass was a winning one.

Leaf threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to James Finley in overtime and No. 15 Oregon beat No. 23 California 27-20 on Saturday.

The Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Pac-10) played their first game without starter Kellen Clemens, who is out for the season with a broken ankle. Dennis Dixon started, but it was Leaf who led them to victory in a game played in constant rain and unpredictable winds.

“They told me I’d get a series here or there, maybe, so I just prepared myself to play,” said Leaf, who got the word as regulation ended that he would be playing in overtime.

California (6-3, 3-3) had a chance to win, but Tom Schneider missed a rushed, 53-yard field-goal attempt as time ran out in the fourth quarter. The Bears have lost three of their last four games.

The only loss for Oregon (8-1, 5-1) was against top-ranked USC.

Leaf, the younger brother of former Washington State star Ryan Leaf, completed 9 of 13 passes for 93 yards, while Dixon was 15 for 26 for 139 yards and a score. He threw one interception.

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti hesitated when asked after the game if Dixon was still his starter.

“I would say yes right now. I haven’t seen the film. But my gut feeling is yes,” Bellotti.

Marshawn Lynch ran for 189 yards on 25 carries, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Golden Bears. Joe Ayoob completed just 10 of 26 passes for 88 yards. He was intercepted three times.

“They looked like two young quarterbacks, but Oregon did a good job protecting them and they made some good plays at times. They did enough in the passing game to win,” Cal coach Jeff Tedford said.

Lynch and Justin Forsett were both averaging 108-plus yards rushing going into the game. But Oregon held Forsett to just 32 yards on six carries.

Whitehead ran for 119 yards, for his 10th game with 100-plus yards, and caught eight passes for 72 yards.

The Golden Bears have not won in Eugene since 1987.