It was billed as the biggest of the 113 Civil War games and that it was for every one of its 60 minutes. With a Rose Bowl berth and sole possession of the Pac-10 conference championship on the line, the Oregon Ducks - an offense that built its resume on scoring quickly - milked away the last 6:09 to defeat Oregon State 37-33. Along the way the Ducks moved the chains twice on fourth down and when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli took a snap in victory formation with 40 seconds left the Ducks booked their first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1994.
Five lead changes kept the Autzen Stadium record setting crowd of 59,597 on their feet from the opening kickoff.
After winning the coin toss, the Ducks elected to receive, then promptly coughed the ball up to the Beavers with an interception, and the Beavers were in business on the Oregon 22-yardline. Six plays later running back Jaquizz Rogers scored from one yard out and the Beavers had drawn first blood.
Oregon head coach Chip Kelly has spoken all year of the resiliency of his team and the Ducks proved true to his word. Masoli gained seven yards with a keeper to start the drive, then handed off to running back Kenjon Barner for another 19. Completions to Jeffrey Maehl and Ed Dickson sandwiched around another Masoli keeper moved the Ducks to the Oregon State six-yard line. Three handoffs to LaMichael James and the game was tied at seven.
Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield quickly moved the Beavers back into Oregon territory but was forced to settle for a field goal after the Duck defense held firm on their own 27. Justin Kahut's 40-yard field goal was good and Oregon State was back in the lead 10-7.
For only a moment. James took two more handoffs from Masoli gaining only two yards, then the Oregon quarterback connected with Maehl over the top of the Oregon State defense for a 73-yard scoring strike.
A pair of Kahut field goals pushed the Beavers back in front 16-14 midway through the second quarter.
With their next possession, Masoli's legs and a pair of completions to Lavasier Tuinei moved Oregon to the Beaver 20. Four plays later, James crashed into the end zone from six yards out and Oregon was back in front 21-16.
With only 1:19 left in the half, Canfield completed five of six passes - capped by a 28-yard touchdown toss to James Rogers and the Beavers headed into recess leading 23-21 and would have the first possession of the second half.
They took full advantage of the opportunity. Starting on their own 25, the Beavers took a 30-21 lead with a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by Canfield's nine-yard completion to Casey Kjos.
Four consecutive carries by James moved the Ducks to the Oregon State 39-yard line but then he was momentarily knocked out of the game with a leg cramp. Making his first appearance since his suspension following the ugliness at Boise State, LaGarrette Blount entered the game. A pair of handoffs for a couple of yards gave the senior running back his game leg, then a half dozen plays later the "Thunder" that Oregon has played without this season took Masoli's handoff to the left, met and bounced off a defender in the backfield and rumbled through the rest of the Beaver defense for 12 yards and the score. The extra point brought the Ducks to within two points, 30-28.
Another Kahut field goal upped the Beaver margin to five, 33-28.
Then lightning struck. James took Masoli's handoff, bounced left and ran down the sideline for 52 yards, giving the Ducks the lead for good. A fourth quarter Morgan Flint field goal ended the scoring - but not the drama.
As the final quarter moved inside ten minutes, Oregon State faced third and nine on the Oregon 21. Canfield had been well protected throughout the game, but this time Oregon's DE Kenny Rowe crashed the pocket, sacking Canfield for a six yard loss. Oregon State head coach Mike Riley used a time out to decided his best option was to forego the field goal and on fourth and 15, Canfield's pass attempt to James Rogers fell incomplete out of bounds.
Oregon took possession on their own 27-yard line with 6:09 on the clock and Masoli once again with the game in his hands.
Oregon State stuffed James on first down, but on second down, Blount blasted 30 yards down the right sideline.
Following an incomplete pass, Masoli connected with Maehl once again for eight yards, but then Blount was thrown for a loss of a yard. On fourth down and three and out of field goal range, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly made the same decision Riley had three minutes earlier - go for it.
Masoli's keeper looked as though it would not be enough until the quarterback spun out of a tackle and lowered his shoulder into Oregon State cornerback Lance Mitchell, knocking him backwards and giving Masoli the additional two yards progress he needed for a new set of downs.
A loss of six by Blount and no gain by James had Oregon facing 3rd and 16 with 2:10 remaining. James picked up 14 with his next carry and after a time out, Oregon passed on a field goal attempt that would have lifted their lead to seven. Instead, Masoli took the snap right and once he isolated the outside linebacker optioned to Kenjon Barner for a five yard gain and the last first down the Ducks would need.
Two snaps later the clock ran out and hundreds of red roses danced high above the mosh pit that was Autzen.
Masoli finished the night 14/21 passing for 201 yards and a touchdown, but it was James that the Beavers had no answer for. His 25 carries were good for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Blount added 51 yards on nine carries.
Oregon's defense held the Beavers to 83 yards rushing limiting sophomore running back Jacquizz Rogers to 64 yards on 16 touches. But Canfield was sharp, completing 24 of 36 good for 306 yards and a pair of scores.
Oregon finishes their regular season with a 10-2 record overall 8-1 in the Pac-10. After the game Kelly was presented with the conference championship trophy by commissioner Larry Scott, then told the Rose Bowl representative that "we will show up" after being extended the official invitation.
"I told them the same thing I usually tell them," Kelly said of his post game remarks. "I told them I love them . I was just very, very proud to be associated with those guys."
"I felt like this team could compete and play with anybody. The great thing about this conference . is that we play everybody. You don't miss anybody. If you are going to be the champion of this conference it is because you gotta take everyone's (best) shot."
"He worked himself back in," Kelly said of Blount's return. "You have to earn this just like everybody else did."
The famously "day to day" approach of the first year head coach will now turn to Big Ten champion Ohio State and the program's first BCS, New Year's Day appearance since the Fiesta Bowl of 2002.
