"After stumbling at Boise State, the Ducks are at home facing Purdue and are floundering offensively. This time it is not only an inexperienced offensive line hampering the effort; there is no timing on the bubble screen, the receivers are slippery fingered and getting a first down is a struggle. It's late in the 3^rd quarter and Oregon has 186 total yards and thanks to a pair of defensive scores the game is tied.  

It was at that moment Oregon established their ground game and nobody has been able to stop them since. As we wrote in that week's PAT, here is how it unfolded:

"It starts slowly, the Ducks complete a four yard pass to their own 32.  Perhaps its just getting some reps under his belt, perhaps the adrenalin has slowed or maybe it is the talent taking over, but here comes LaMichael James. He tears off runs of 9 and 6 yards to show that the O-line is creating space to run. No question that having video game like quickness helps too, as he starts and stops, jukes and jolts through the defense. Masoli connects with tight end David Paulson for 11 more yards, then he hands off to James again.

Lowering his 5'9'' frame to hide behind a guard; he stops, he starts; he straight arms a tackler; he turns the corner inside out with a stutter step, then he turns on the burners and goes for 27 yards to the Purdue 15! Jeremiah gets the last 15 yards on the option keeper on the next play and Oregon takes a 31-24 lead. 82 yards in 1:27. Shades of last year."

Say what you want about Boise and the "Days of Our Lives" that followed, this team has persevered - showing exceptional character, work ethic and belief in one another that rivals any team in Oregon history you care to point out.

In Tucson the Ducks were able to offer this for all to see, in yet another ESPN Game Day appearance and a game where only the winner would remain in control of their Rose Bowl hopes.

Let's set the scene. What appeared to be a 14-0 halftime lead evaporates when Arizona gets on the board after intercepting Jeremiah Masoli to set up their first score, then tacking on a field goal 1:59 before the break. In the third quarter the Wildcat defense keeps Oregon off the field and their offense takes a 24-14 lead in the opening minutes of the fourth.

It took Oregon only six minutes of clock time to knot the game at 24 after Morgan Flint's 43-yard knuckler hits the crossbar and bounces up and over the crossbar.

The tie is short lived. On their first play from scrimmage Arizona breaks a seam on an inside screen pass, going 71 yards for a 31-24 lead.

Down to 6:26 remaining it doesn't look promising when the Ducks fail on 4^th and 4 on their own 44, giving Arizona possession in Oregon territory. Two plays and a false start penalty later, Arizona faces 3^rd and 11 from the Oregon forty.

Nick Foles' stretches the field and his pass attempt into the Oregon end zone is tipped by Marvin Johnson and alertly intercepted by the trailing Talmadge Jackson III. The touchback gives Oregon the ball at their own 20 with 3:11 remaining.

Thus the stage was set for a game tying drive that will be seen in highlight reels for decades to come - a drive built on those traits of perseverance, character and belief mentioned above.

A couple short passes - including a fourth down and five conversion to Maehl - and a healthy dose of LaMichael James allows Masoli to guide the Ducks to the Arizona eight.

Off the line of scrimmage the Arizona linebacker released TE Ed Dickson to the secondary and his jab step to the flag turned the DB's hips, then Dickson came back the to post and Masoli threaded the ball inside the safety to bring the Ducks to 31-30 with 6 seconds remaining. Nate Costa handles the bad snap and places the ball in time for Morgan Flint to put it between the uprights to tie the game.

At this point, Arizona must have justifiably felt a little desperation at not being able to put the Ducks away when they had the opportunity. They had let the genie out of the bottle, Oregon's offense was rolling again.

In the first overtime, Masoli misses his first pass but LaMichael James tears off a blazing 21-yard run, then Masoli hits Jeff Maehl on a crossing route deep in the end zone for the score. With their possession Arizona matches the Duck's touchdown and it's on to the next overtime.

The Oregon defense collapses the pocket forcing Nick Foles to throw two passes away, then Arizona attempts the inside screen once again hoping for a big play. But Oregon doesn't blitz, DE Will Tukuafu stuffs it and the Cats settle for the 3 points.

Arizona is reeling at this point and Jeremiah is quick to take advantage, completing a sideline route - a play they hadn't called for two years - to Ed Dickson to the 2 yard line.

On 3^rd & goal, Masoli keeps on the option, splitting two defenders at the goal line for the touchdown and the ultimate, come-from-behind thriller is complete.

So, the Ducks go from a possible 0-2 start at the moment of that defining drive late in the 3rd quarter against Purdue, to 9-2 and the "Civil War the Roses" this Thursday.

Here are the keys to the success so far this year.

Oregon's defense opened the season ready to play, keeping the Duck's in the first 3 games until the offense could find their rhythm and get it going. Season ending injuries to Walter Thurmond III and Willie Glasper could easily have left the unit vulnerable and an 0-4 start wasn't that far out of the realm of possibilities. Instead the Ducks were 2-1 and ready to rumble when the offense came alive against California.

Nick Aliotti's group played a LOT of minutes in those first three games. The defensive line is undersized but with the exception of Stanford, has been able to stop the run. The linebackers are smart and fast and are equal to the task of run stopping and reading their keys in the pass defense. They also bring pressure in the blitz package. Although inexperienced, a combination of defensive backs has played well despite some youthful errors.

The Oregon offensive line improved in each of the first three games and by the time of the California game, they are creating running lanes and protecting Masoli.

Oregon's receivers step up to catch the balls they were dropping in those first three outings and their improved downfield blocking increased the effectiveness of the running game. With a full hand to play, Jeremiah Masoli relaxes a little and starts to get his flow going just as he did last year running and passing for big yards.

But make no mistake here, it is James that has been the true difference. He is faster than Jeremiah Johnson both forward and laterally. While not as strong or as big as Jonathan Stewart, his vision is better at seeing the hole early and hitting it at full speed. Without his exceptional year, Oregon's offense would be lacking the weapon that prevents defenses from focusing solely on Jeremiah.