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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Forecast predicts more snow likely on local passes 10 things to know for Monday In the new year, be sure you have your 'ICE' file ready Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Snow accumulating on mountain passes Education In the new year, be sure you have your 'ICE' file ready Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention Teacher's Tips: Second — and third — chances are there for students For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Ashland builds a bridge across the STEM gap Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home ‘Tis the season — for wild mushrooms Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Silvio Calabi: Infiniti Q50 offers business-class driving Looking for crown's halo Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition Politics and elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Local rep to testify before U.S. Senate panel Tuesday Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means State News Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport In Portland, mindfulness classes ease stress of high school Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Death Notices Charlene Mae Death Notices Edith J. 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Russo The Associated Press Posted Dec. 23, 2014 @ 5:29 pm » Social News The only thing left for Marcus Mariota to win at Oregon is the national championship. The Ducks' star quarterback is The Associated Press college football player of the year, adding yet another honor to his spectacular season. Mariota won the AP vote in the same landslide fashion he won the Heisman Trophy. He received 49 of the 54 votes submitted by the AP Top 25 media panel. Alabama receiver Amari Cooper drew three votes. Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had one vote each. Mariota is the first Oregon player to win AP player of the year, which was first awarded in 1998, and the eighth quarterback to win it in the last nine years. The junior has also won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp player of the year, and the Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which go to the top quarterbacks in the country. Oregon will face Florida State and last year's Heisman winner and AP player of the year, Winston, in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl. The winner will face Alabama or Ohio State in the national championship game Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in North Texas. With his combination of speed and a strong arm, Mariota is a play of the day waiting to happen. He set a Pac-12 record by accounting for 53 touchdowns, including 38 TD passes. He is the highest rated passer in the country (186.33) and has thrown for 3,783 yards and just two interceptions. "He's an absolute competitor, an incredible perfectionist," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. Here are a few of the most memorable Mariota moments from 2014: THE SHOVEL In what was perhaps the biggest nonconference game of the season, Michigan State had Oregon in trouble in the second half. It was 27-18 Spartans midway through the third quarter and the Ducks were facing a third-and-10 after having already punted away their first two second-half possessions. Michigan State collapsed the pocket around Mariota, who eluded three defenders, slipping and stepping around a mess of Spartans around his feet. Mariota stumbled out of the pocket and pushed a pass to Royce Freeman, who went for 17 yards. That drive ended soon after with a touchdown. And so did the next Oregon drive. And the next one. The Ducks went on to win 46-27. SCOOP AND SCORE As good as Mariota is, a little luck helps. Against UCLA, the Ducks were dominating when Mariota was driving them toward another score in the third quarter. He faked a handoff and the ball slipped from his hand and hit the turf. The ball bounced back into Mariota's hands and he secured it on the go — like a dribble drive — bursting into an untouched sprint to the end zone from 23 yards out. DUCK TOUGH Oregon's rout of Stanford, Mariota's first win after two losses to the Cardinal, had plenty of flashy plays from Hawaii native. Still, it was an 8-yard run early in the second quarter on a third-and-5 around midfield which said more about Mariota than any of the big gains and great throws. The Stanford losses called into question the Ducks' toughness. On this play it was Mariota busting through a tackle and dragging a Stanford defender for a first down that led to a touchdown. At that point it was obvious Oregon was done being pushed around by the Cardinal. The final: 45-16 Ducks. BURNING ARIZONA From Oregon's first big game of the season to its latest. The Ducks and Mariota had already jumped out to a huge lead against Arizona and Mariota assured there would be no miracle comebacks in the Pac-12 championship. As he did against Michigan State, Mariota escaped a crumbling pocket and rolled to his right with his eyes down field. On the move, he stepped into a long twisting throw that hit Darren Carrington in the numbers for a 46-yard gain. Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press DailyTidings.com By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press Posted Dec. 23, 2014 @ 5:29 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Dec. 28, 2014 at 10:00 am Last-Minute Outlook for Fantasy Flex Players Dec. 28, 2014 at 9:00 am Last-Minute Fantasy Advice for Week 17 Dec. 28, 2014 at 7:00 am Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm Final NFL Week 17 Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch Dec. 27, 2014 at 10:00 am Fantasy Football Daily League Guide to Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 8:06 am calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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