Ducks find their way

EUGENE, Ore. – As the fog settled over Autzen Stadium, No. 10 Oregon settled in for an easy, season-ending win. Then the waiting began.

The Ducks routed rival Oregon State 56-14 in a fog-shrouded Civil War on Saturday night.

Oregon (10-1, 7-1) must now see how the rest of the season shakes out, including whether top-ranked USC earns a berth in the national championship game, before learning its own postseason fate.

The Ducks, with 10 wins, could be considered for an at-large BCS invitation.

It is just the second time in school history that the Ducks have won 10 regular-season games. They also won 10 in 2001, when they went to the Fiesta Bowl and finished 11-1 with Joey Harrington at quarterback.

“People think we’re weak,” defensive end Devan Long said. “Everybody doubts us and doesn’t think we’re as good as we are. We went out today and proved them wrong.”

Oregon State (5-6, 3-5), which lost four of its last five, finished the regular season without the six victories required for bowl eligibility.

The 109th version of the rivalry established in 1894 was shrouded in fog so thick it was difficult at times to see the ball. The public address announcer at Autzen Stadium opened the second half by proclaiming: “Somewhere down there the Ducks will receive.”

The Beavers were hobbled before the game began because quarterback Matt Moore injured his right knee in a 20-17 home loss to Stanford last week.

Sophomore Ryan Gunderson was called upon to make his first college start in one of the biggest games of the season for the Beavers. He completed 22 of 43 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted four times.

“I’m furious. I’m disappointed in myself,” Gunderson said. “I wish I could have put the ball in a couple of more people’s hands. It’s just a couple of mistakes that kill you.”

Oregon, which earlier this season lost starting QB Kellen Clemens for the season with a broken ankle, turned again to both Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf for its seventh straight victory.

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“We’re on Cloud Nine right now,” Demetrius Williams said. “There is no better feeling than beating the Beavers like that, at home, last game, everything.”

It was the final college game for Oregon State receiver Mike Hass, a walk-on projected by many to be a second-round pick in the NFL draft. Coming into the game, Hass led the nation this season with an average of 142.5 yards receiving. He caught 10 passes for 107 yards against the Ducks.

The home team has won the Civil War each year since 1997. Oregon’s 56 points were the most scored by either team in the series.

Oregon State defeated Oregon 50-21 at Reser Stadium. The victory propelled the Beavers to the Insight Bowl and sent the Ducks home.

(10) Oregon 56, Oregon St. 14

UO—Gipson 60 interception return (Martinez kick)

UO—Whitehead 14 pass from Dixon (Martinez kick)

OSU—Bernard 2 run (Serna kick)

UO—Whitehead 2 run (Martinez kick)

UO—Stewart 1 run (Martinez kick)

UO—Stewart 97 kickoff return (Martinez kick)

OSU—Hawkins 2 pass from Gunderson (Serna kick)

UO—D.Williams 6 pass from Dixon (Martinez kick)

UO—J.Williams 66 pass from Dixon (Martinez kick)

UO—Johnson 4 run (Martinez kick)

A—58,525.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Oregon State, Bernard 33-128, R.Jackson 2-7, Fuller 4-5, Gunderson 2-(minus 21). Oregon, Whitehead 12-81, Stewart 7-28, Dixon 9-21, Johnson 2-14, Te.Jackson 2-4, Team 1-(minus 2), Leaf 3-(minus 6).

PASSING—Oregon State, Gunderson 22-43-4-175, Charles 1-1-0-3. Oregon, Dixon 12-17-0-204, Leaf 5-11-0-54, Bennett 1-2-0-4.

RECEIVING—Oregon State, Hass 10-107, Wheat-Brown 6-48, Bernard 2-10, Haines 1-6, Vandiver 1-5, Stroughter 1-3, Hawkins 1-2, R.Jackson 1-(minus 3). Oregon, D.Williams 5-82, Finley 3-40, J.Williams 2-75, Whitehead 2-20, Weatherspoon 2-13, Day 1-11, Stewart 1-9, Rosario 1-8, Te.Jackson 1-4.