Document text
Ducks' Droughns hopes for return to his '98 form Photo from AP Reuben Droughns ranked fourth in the nation in rushing and scoring and first in yards per carry before getting injured. He, Hartley are Oregon's playmakers By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN EUGENE -- Oregon tailback Reuben Droughns is on a mission in 1999 to prove that his explosion of rushing yards last season was no fluke. In just five games, Droughns, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior from Anaheim, Calif., rushed for 824 yards on 112 carries and ran for more than 200 yards in three games. He ranked fourth in the country in rushing (164.8 yards per game) and scoring (13.2 points per game) at the time of his injury and first in per-carry average (7.4). Droughns was on his way to his fourth 200-yard effort in game No. 5 against UCLA when he was struck by season-ending injuries to his right leg and ankle during a 41-38 Bruins' overtime victory at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. He suffered a fractured right fibula and ligament damage in his right ankle in the second half of the UCLA game. He ran for 172 yards against the Bruins. Losing him for the year proved to be the Ducks' defining moment. Quarterback Akili Smith kept the offense productive with his passing and scrambling, but Oregon didn't have enough offense -- and not nearly enough defense -- to contend for the Pac-10 Conference title. But with a new season comes new hopes for Droughns and the rest of the Ducks. Droughns is almost back to full strength. His practice time has been limited this fall, but he'll still be the main man. "When he got hurt against UCLA, he was just coming into his own," Oregon running backs coach Gary Campbell said in an Associated Press story. "So he's been putting a lot of pressure on that leg, making those hard stops and starts and cuts that really make me cringe when I see him doing it because I expect that ankle just to pop." So far, so good. "I may have lost a step, but I'm still strong," says Droughns. Which will be important to Oregon's cause. "Our goals won't change," says coach Mike Bellotti. "We want to have a good season and get to the postseason. And we want to win that bowl game." But winning the Pac-10 title over Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC and Washington won't be easy. "My goal is to win every game," says Droughns. "We are capable of that, I think. I want to play in the Rose Bowl twice." Oregon plays UCLA on Oct. 9 in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks would like to return to the New Year's Day Rose Bowl game for the second time in five years as Pac-10 champions. "We can win the Pac-10," says Tony Hartley, one of Oregon's top playmakers last season. Hartley finished the season as Oregon's No. 11 career receiver with 104 catches for 1,863 yards. With one season to play, he trails all-time receiving leader Cristin McLemore by 58 catches and 635 yards. He needs to average just over five receptions per game and just under 60 yards per game to break both records. "I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think we could win the Pac-10," says Hartley, who admits he considered leaving school early to make himself eligible for the NFL draft. Hartley, who was suspended from the team and did not play in the Aloha Bowl game, says he wants to make amends to his teammates, coaches and fans for what he terms a "lack of judgment" that led to his suspension. Droughns says a summer of physical training and weight lifting has readied his body for the onslaught of carries he hopes to get, especially early in the season when the Ducks search for a new leader and quarterback to replace Smith, a first-round NFL draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. "I'd like to have the ball more this year," says Droughns, "but only if that helps us score and win." Bellotti has given the starting nod at quarterback to junior A.J. Feeley, with sophomore Joey Harrington nipping at his heels. "We may rotate them," says Bellotti. "They can both play. Both have strong arms, and they've been around two or three years to learn the system. I'm looking for one of them to be able to move the chains and get us in the end zone." To go with Droughns, Oregon has sophomore Herman Ho-Ching, who gained 296 yards in seven games as a true freshman before suffering a knee injury that ended his season. Defensively, Bellotti says linebackers Peter Sirmon, Matt Smith of Grants Pass and Dietrich Moore give the Ducks the potential to have the best linebacking corps they've had since Bellotti arrived at Oregon 10 years ago as an assistant coach. He compares the linebackers favorably with the ones that helped put Oregon in the Rose Bowl (Jeremy Asher and Rich Ruhl). "They could be the best linebacker group we've had," says Bellotti. "I know that's saying a lot. We could have the best linebacking group in the Pac-10, and one of the best in the country." Oregon's starting offensive line is expected to consist of tackles Al Cotton and Josh Beckett, guards Jim Adams and Deke Moen and center Ryan Schmid. End Saul Patu returns to lead a defensive line that is expected to be improved. Other returning starters are end Terry Miller, tackle Caleb Smith and tackle Faiva Talaeai. "We will be a lot more physical team this year under Nick Aliotti (Oregon's new defensive coordinator)," says Patu. "That will be noticeable. We will go back to flying to the ball and hitting people -- the way coach Aliotti likes it." Oregon opens the season Thursday at Michigan State. The game, to be broadcast nationally at 5 p.m. on ESPN, is a rematch of last year's opener, won by the Ducks, 48-14, at Autzen Stadium. Ducks at a Glance COACH : Mike Bellotti (fifth year, 30-17-0). ASSISTANTS : Neal Zoumboukos (assistant head coach, offensive line), Nick Aliotti (defensive coordinator), Jeff Tedford (defensive coordinator, quarterbacks), Gary Campbell (running backs), Bob Foster (linebackers), Bob Gregory (defensive secondary), Tom Osborne (tight ends, special teams), Don Pellum (defensive line), Chris Petersen (receivers). 1998 LEAGUE RECORD : 5-3-0 (tie for third, Pac-10). 1998 OVERALL RECORD : 8-4. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR : Fifth. 1998 REGULAR SEASON SCORES Oregon 48 Michigan State 14 33 Texas El Paso 26 58 San Jose State 3 63 Stanford 28 51 Washington State 29 38 (OT) UCLA 41 17 USC 13 3 Arizona 38 27 Washington 22 51 Arizona State 19 41 (2 OT) Oregon State 44 43 (Aloha Bowl) Colorado 51 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (6) : Tackle Josh Beckett (6-5, 315, sr.), tailback Reuben Droughns (6-0, 210, sr.), flanker Tony Hartley (6-0, 190, sr.), fullback Chris Young (6-0, 220, sr.), guard Lee Gundy (6-5, 305, sr.), center Deke Moen (6-4, 280, sr.). DEFENSE (8) : Corner Rashad Bauman (5-8, 180, jr.), rover Michael Fletcher (5-10, 210, sr.), strong safety Brandon McLemore (6-3, 205, sr.), end Saul Patu (6-3, 260, jr.), linebacker Peter Sirmon (6-2, 245, sr.), tackle Caleb Smith (6-5, 282, sr.), end Terry Miller (6-3, 250, sr.), linebacker Dietrich Moore (6-1, 221, sr.). OTHER NOTABLES Quarterback A.J. Feeley (6-4, 220, jr.), quarterback Joey Harrington (6-4, 212, so.), receiver Cy Aleman (6-3, 195, fr.), running back Derien Latimer (5-11, 219, sr.), running back Herman Ho-Ching (5-11, 200, so.), linebacker Matt Smith (6-4, 242 jr.), cornerback Tamoni Joyner (5-11, 183, jr.), cornerback Brian Johnson (5-9, 165, jr.), place-kicker Nathan Villegas (5-9, 165, sr.), punter Kirk Doerr (6-2, 215, jr.), fullback Chad Chance (6-2, 230, jr.). 1999 SCHEDULE Sept. 2 at Michigan State, 5 p.m. Sept. 11 TEXAS-EL PASO, 1 p.m. Sept. 18 NEVADA, 2 p.m. Sept. 25 SOUTHERN CAL, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 2 at Washington, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 9 at UCLA, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 23 at Arizona, 6 p.m. Oct. 30 ARIZONA STATE, 1 p.m. Nov. 6 WASHINGTON STATE, 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at California, 12:30 p.m. Nov. 20 OREGON STATE, 3:30 p.m. FOOTBALL 99 Index Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.