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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 22, 2006 Oregon fans have little to cheer about in Las Vegas By MARK ANDERSON for the Mail Tribune LAS VEGAS — Oregon fans who traveled here to cheer on their team didn't have a lot to feel good about after the Ducks lost 38-8 to a Brigham Young team that got its first bowl win in 10 years in the Las Vegas Bowl Thursday. The Ducks' regular season started on a bright note with four consecutive wins and ended with four painful losses. And while Thursday's outcome did little to the hurt, there were a few solid performances by Duck players. Kick returner Jonathan Stewart had a total of five returns for 117 yards. He returned a kickoff 47 yards midway though the second quarter, but the Ducks failed to move the ball on the ensuing possession. Running back Jeremiah Johnson had 41 yards on six carries, his longest a 25-yard scamper in the first quarter. Johnson had 30 yards on three rushes in the first quarter. Advertisement u DUCKS COACH Mike Bellotti alternated quarterbacks. Brady Leaf, who started the game, threw for 44 yards on 6-for-14 passing with one interception. Dennis Dixon threw for 122 yards, going 10-for-20. He rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries. u RESPECT FOR MOUNTAIN WEST? Prior to Thursday's game, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said BYU could not handle upper-level Pac-10 Conference teams. "We didn't play a mid-level Pac-10 team," he said of BYU. The Cougars went 8-0 in their conference. In their first game of the season, Sept. 2, BYU lost to Arizona of the Pac-10 on the road, 16-13. Meanwhile, Oregon lost to Arizona 37-10 at home Nov. 18. Arizona was the only common opponent for the two teams. U PENALTIES, PENALTIES: As in the past, the Ducks were hampered by penalties. Oregon was whistled for eight penalties for 75 yards, including three personal fouls. BYU had 70 yards itself. "I didn't see two of them," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of the personal fouls. "I don't allow that. We didn't play with discipline." Two costly penalties by the Ducks' defense at the close of the first quarter cost them 20 yards, giving the Cougars excellent field position and leading to a 24-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter by Jared McLaughlin for the first points of the game. The field goal capped a 92-yard, 14-play series by the Cougars. u ROAD GAME FOR DUCKS? The Ducks had to contend with a sellout crowd — 90 percent of them Cougar fans from nearby Utah — who did their best to disrupt Dixon and Leaf's signal calling. A total of 44,615 fans watched the game, setting an all-time attendance record for Sam Boyd Stadium. It also was the largest crowd to ever attend a Nevada sporting event. The previous record at Sam Boyd Stadium was in 2002, when UNLV hosted Wisconsin in front of 42,075. In that game, the power at the stadium went out and the game was called with 7:41 left, giving Wisconsin a 27-7 win. The previous attendance record for the Las Vegas Bowl was 40,053, coming last year when California defeated, BYU 35-28. Before this year's game, there was a steady stream of cars with Utah plates driving through north Las Vegas to the stadium, located five miles east of the Las Vegas Strip. U HERE AND THERE: The Ducks were out to snap a three-game bowl losing streak. Their last bowl victory was a 38-16 win over Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl ... Oregon's last two bowl losses (Holiday Bowl, Sun Bowl) were by a combined four points ... Before Thursday's game, Oregon was 3-2 against BYU, with the last meeting coming in 1990, when Oregon upset the then-No. 4 Cougars, 32-16 in Eugene. All three of Oregon's wins came at home. They traveled to Utah just once (1980) in the series, which began in 1964. ... This was the second widest margin of victory at the Las Vegas Bowl. The record is held by Oregon State, which defeated New Mexico, 55-14, in 2003. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com