LaMichael James ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns to lead Oregon to a 44-21 victory over Arizona State Saturday night at Autzen Stadium.
The Sun Devils brought the Pac-10 leading rush defense but it was no match for James and Oregon's running game. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli added another 67 yards on the ground and the Ducks amassed 268 yards rushing against a defense that had been allowing only 87.44 yards a game, best in the league and sixth in the nation.
James went to work quickly. After ASU could do nothing with the game's first possession, Oregon started on their own 41. Masoli completed a 14-yard pass to D.J. Davis to move into Sun Devil territory, then James ripped off a 22-yard dart through he ASU defense to put Oregon on the Sun Devil 23 yard line. Masoli's keeper was good for 19 more, then James packed it in from the four to give the Ducks a quick 7-0 advantage.
"They are a fantastic defense, those guys have no weaknesses on defense," said offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. "They are very talented, they are fast, and they're experienced. But our guys were committed to a turnaround from the Stanford game and kind of making that right and we got off to a great start."
Taking a page out of the Stanford playbook, Arizona State loaded up the offensive line and ran the ball right at Oregon with their next possession. Dimitri Nance carried the ball nine straight times and the Sun Devils advanced to the Oregon 44. Gassed, Nance asked to be replaced and his substitute was stuffed on the next play for a gain of only one yard. Two incomplete passes stalled the drive and James went back to work.
With the ball on the Oregon 13, James blasted through the Sun Devil defense for 51 yards. Two plays later Masoli unleashed a 24-yard laser that Jeffrey Maehl caught at the ASU two yard line and it was an easy play call from there - James off tackle for his second score.
Arizona State took advantage of a Masoli interception to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Trying to complete a slip screen underneath the defense, Masoli didn't see defensive end James Brooks drop back into coverage and threw the ball right to him. Four plays later, Nance scored from the two to cut Oregon's lead in half.
After the kickoff, Oregon drove the ball to the ASU ten but had to settle for a 27-yard Morgan Flint field goal.
The Sun Devils gave the ball right back to the Ducks when Talmadge Jackson III stepped in front of quarterback Brock Osweiler's pass on 3rd and eight, giving Oregon the ball on the ASU 26.
Masoli took a keeper 21 yards and then handed the ball off to James twice to give the Ducks a 24-7 lead.
Oregon's defense forced a three and out and in the process Osweiler injured his shoulder and was lost for the remainder of the game.
Taking over at the ASU 38, Masoli found D.J. Davis for a dozen yards then Kenjon Barner ran for 17. On first and goal from the ASU nine, Masoli was flushed from the pocket and scrambled right. As he neared the sideline he found TE Ed Dickson free near the goal line and unleashed a rocket that Dickson gathered in, then reverse pivoted around a last defender to give Oregon a commanding 31-7 margin at the halftime break.
Osweiler's replacement, Samson Szakacsy sparked the Sun Devil offense to a pair of scores in the third quarter, the second a result of a Kenjon Barner fumble on the kickoff following the first.
With the lead now cut to 10 points, Barner made immediate amends - his next return was good for 40 yards and Oregon was in business at mid-field. Masoli's keeper gained 15 yards, then a face mask penalty gave the Ducks possession on the ASU 21.
With the Sun Devils loading the box anticipating run on 1st and 10, Masoli threw a strike to Jeffrey Maehl on a post pattern for the score.
A pair of fourth quarter field goals by Morgan Flint accounted for the final margin.
Masoli's passing numbers (10/20 - 120 yards) weren't nearly as impressive as were his two touchdown passes. Well protected by his offensive line, the junior signal caller was able to wait as the passing route unfolded and get all of his considerable arm strength behind his throws. Even when on the move as he was for Dickson's score, Masoli squared his shoulders and whistled a strike to his receiver.
The sub-plot of LeGarrette Blount's return from suspension was lost in the performance of James. "LaMichael had a great game and showed again why he's one of the best in the nation," said head coach Chip Kelly. "We're going to ride him as long as we can."
"We just played hard," said James. "The offensive line blocked great today, the receivers blocked well today. Really I'm nothing without those guys - they did a great job today."
With the win Oregon's record improved to 6-1 in conference and 8-2 overall with a trip to Tucson to face Arizona up next followed the season finale against Oregon State at Autzen on December 3. The Wildcats were beaten earlier in the day by California leaving Oregon as the only one loss team in the conference and in control of their own destiny.
That may not mean much if Oregon doesn't win out - a two loss Oregon team would likely see Stanford or Oregon State claim the conference crown on tie-breakers if they falter.
"It's a pretty tough place to play," said Masoli of Tucson. "We will just have to stick to the script and keep on doing what we've been doing."
