Ducks in title hunt

EUGENE, Ore. – Dennis Dixon has helped carry Oregon into the heart of the national title race.

For a few moments, the Ducks had to wonder if he’d be there for the rest of the journey.

Dixon threw four touchdown passes before leaving with a knee injury, and the fourth-ranked Ducks defeated No. 6 Arizona State 35-23 on Saturday, their second consecutive victory over a Top 10 team.

Though Dixon’s injury is not believed to be serious, it may have given Oregon more of a scare than the Sun Devils did.

“Dennis is going to be fine,” coach Mike Bellotti said. “He would have gone back in if we felt he was needed.”

The Ducks didn’t need their Heisman Trophy candidate in the final quarter, and that was a testament to tailback Jonathan Stewart, who ran for 99 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown, and their oft-criticized defense. The Ducks sacked ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter nine times and forced two late turnovers deep in Oregon territory.

“We played inspired on both sides of the ball,” Dixon said. “And we can enjoy it right now.”

The largest crowd to attend a football game in the state, 59,379, came out on a clear afternoon to watch the Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Pac-10) repel the Sun Devils (8-1, 5-1).

Last week, the Ducks beat Southern California on the same field to set up the West Coast’s biggest game of the season – Oregon was in fifth place in the latest BCS standings while Arizona State was fourth.

The Ducks would be ranked higher had they not lost in the final minute against then-No. 6 California in Autzen Stadium on Sept. 29. But that defeat galvanized Oregon, which has won four straight to take command of the Pac-10 race.

“The thing that’s impressive is our team has gotten better and better every game,” defensive end Nick Reed said.

Arizona State came into the game as one of five undefeated teams in major college football, with its own hopes for a national title run.

“Obviously, guys are down,” quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. “We wanted to have a magical season this year, and I think guys have got to understand that we still can.”

The first possessions set the tone for the game. On the game’s first snap, Dixon hit Jaison Williams for a 43-yard strike to the Arizona State 33. Three plays later, Williams caught a screen in the right flat and raced 26 yards for a touchdown.

“I have to give Oregon credit,” Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said. “They came out like wildfires on offense.”

The Ducks led 14-3 after one quarter. It was the fourth time this season Arizona State had faced a double-digit deficit after the first quarter.

In the first three – against Colorado, Oregon State and California – the Sun Devils rallied for decisive victories.

This time, ASU couldn’t dig itself out of the hole.

“Jumping on a team lets them know that we’re here to play,” Stewart said.

Dixon was the main reason for Oregon’s fast start. Freezing the defense with deft fakes, Dixon led the Ducks to a comfortable 35-16 lead through three quarters.

Dixon completed 13 of 22 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for 57 yards.