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DNS FOG Temp: 40 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, November 22, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 1, 2002 Commentary Oregon proves it’s no pushover By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune EUGENE — In the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, Oregon proved that the Pac-10 is no physical pushover. That point was hammered home again Saturday at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks debuted their revamped digs — and the new season — with a 36-13 pasting of Mississippi State. The big, bad Bulldogs (0-1 overall), the first Southeastern Conference opponent to ever visit Eugene, were limited to 31 yards and one first down on 24 rushing attempts. Meanwhile, No. 15 Oregon (1-0), representing the so-called "soft" Pac-10, bullied its way to 205 yards and 13 first downs on 53 running plays. The Ducks dominated in the trenches in stockpiling a 10-minute, 50-second advantage in time of possession. "We were really confident coming in," said right tackle Mike De La Grange, the mammoth (6-foot-6, 345 pounds) sophomore from Grant Pass who made his first collegiate start. "We knew they had some real good athletes on their defense and were very quick, but we stepped it up as a team and blocked really well." Onterrio Smith was the ball-carrying battering ram, amassing 124 yards on 28 carries despite just two bursts of 10 yards or more. "The key word is ‘thought’ they could physically beat us," said the 5-10, 204-pound Smith, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter with Oregon in firm command. "We took it to them." Defensively, Oregon’s hyped front seven flexed its muscle from the beginning, allowing 11 net yards on MSU’s 11 first-half rushes. Tackles Igor Olshansky and Kai Smalley plugged the middle, allowing linebackers Kevin Mitchell, David Moretti and Garret Graham and safeties Keith Lewis and Rasuli Webster to roam and destroy. The Bulldogs’ 1,562 pounds of beef along their starting offensive line was shredded in front of an Autzen record crowd of 56,386. "Our goal and motto every game is to run the football and stop the run," said Ducks head coach Mike Bellotti, now 7-1 in season-openers during his tenure. "We controlled the ball." Oregon scored on its first five offensive possessions and was never really threatened, coasting to the victory after building a 27-0 lead. New quarterback Jason Fife flashed slippery mobility in his much-anticipated first start. He finished with good numbers — 166 yards passing, 25 yards rushing and four total touchdowns — although the Ducks’ offense bogged down in the second half. "I’d give myself a B+, C-," Fife said in assessing his performance. The game’s opening drive, however, was all A’s, as Fife directed Oregon 80 yards in 15 plays, taking up 6:56 of the first quarter to claim an immediate lead. "I really wanted to come out and push the ball down the field on the first possession," said Fife, who capped the march with a 5-yard keeper after converting two third downs and one fourth along the way. "And it felt great to do that." The story of Saturday’s surprisingly easy opener, however, was the Ducks’ physical prowess. Much like the Fiesta Bowl, in which Oregon reduced Colorado’s vaunted rushing attack to 49 yards and gained 150 ground yards of its own, the Ducks were overpowering up front. "We went out there to prove a point, and that was that we could run the ball and stop their running game," said senior wide receiver Keenan Howry. Pounded into submission, Mississippi State will wear that point as it limps back home to Starkville, Miss., and the "soft" SEC. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S