Oregon routs Bears
To Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, taking criticism is part of the job. So is disproving it.
Masoli answered his naysayers by throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns in Oregon’s 42-3 upset of sixth-ranked California on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
He completed 21 of 25 passes for the Ducks (3-1), who had 524 yards in total offense and buried any resemblance to the Oregon team that fell so dramatically to Boise State in a nationally televised season opener.
“There’s always critics – and it always falls on the quarterback,” Masoli said. “You try not to think about it, because nobody on the outside really has anything to do with it.”
Tailback Jahvid Best ran for just 55 yards for the Golden Bears (3-1), who had 206 yards in total offense – less than half their average. Widely considered a top Heisman contender, Best went into the game ranked third in the nation with an average of 137.33 yards on the ground.
It was Cal’s most lopsided loss under coach Jeff Tedford – Oregon’s former offensive coordinator – and worst since 55-14 to USC in 2001.
Oregon tight end Ed Dickson had 11 catches for a career-best 148 yards. He caught all three of Masoli’s scoring passes.
“On offense the sky’s the limit for us,” Masoli said with confidence. “We’re the only ones who can hurt us. These last couple of weeks we’ve been in a funk, but today we moved past that.”
Cal scored on Vince D’Amato’s 47-yard field goal early after Oregon fumbled on its opening kickoff return.
The Golden Bears would not score again.
Cal was averaging 488.7 yards in total offense going into the game to rank 11th nationally, and gaining 250.33 yards on the ground.
(21) Georgia 20, Arizona State 17: At Athens, Ga., Blair Walsh kicked a 37-yard field goal on the final play and the Bulldogs (3-1) escaped an upset, beating the Sun Devils (2-1) on another big night for A.J. Green.
Green caught eight passes for 153 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. He also appeared to get his hand on Bobby Wenzig’s 38-yard field-goal attempt that could have put the Sun Devils ahead with 4:21 remaining.
Green, who had a career-best 159 yards receiving against Arizona State a year ago, came up with a 36-yard grab for his final reception of the night, which set up Walsh’s winning field goal.
Arizona 37, Oregon State 32: At Corvallis, Ore., Nick Foles passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in his first start and the Wildcats (3-1) shrugged off the loss of leading rusher Nic Grigsby to beat the Beavers (2-2).
Making his first start, Foles was patient and precise in directing Arizona.
James Rodgers had eight catches for 119 yards and 116 yards on kickoff returns for the Beavers (2-2). Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns and also caught 13 passes for 70 yards. Canfield was 31 of 47 for 303 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.