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74 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, September 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 12, 2004 Oregon just plain stinks in loss to Hoosiers By DON HUNT Mail Tribune EUGENE — The fourth-largest crowd in Autzen Stadium history showed up Saturday for Oregon’s season opener against Indiana. The fans expected a decisive victory, somewhere in the neighborhood of three touchdowns. What they witnessed was a painful, 30-24 loss to Indiana, a very ordinary opponent that beat Central Michigan 41-20 in its opener but went 2-9 last season. And, oh yes, the Hoosiers were on a 13-game road losing streak prior to their trip west. Quite simply, the Ducks laid a stink bomb that none of the mills in nearby Springfield could rival, even with the benefit of a strong east wind. Advertisement The seven turnovers the Ducks committed brought back memories of last season’s 55-16 debacle against Washington State in which they lost the ball nine times. "It’s tough when you have so many negative plays," a haggard-looking Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said after the game. "We just couldn’t handle the football, we dug ourselves a big hole and never got out of it." Before the first period had ended, quarterback Kellen Clemens lost the ball while trying to make a throw in the pocket, Aaron Gipson and Terrence Whitehead each fumbled it away on punts and Whitehead coughed it up while striving to gain extra yardage on a running play. All four miscues were committed deep in Duck territory and Indiana cashed them in for a 20-0 lead. The Hoosiers added another field goal on their lone sustained drive in the first half for a 23-0 cushion at the intermission. It seemed only fitting that a light rain and fog rolled into Autzen Stadium as the first half was coming to a close. However, thanks to an inspired Oregon defense that held the Hoosiers to just 198 yards on the day, the Ducks weren’t out of this game by any means. They finally got on the board when Clemens hit sophomore fullback Dante Rosario on a wheel route for a 35-yard touchdown at the 9:52 mark of the third period to make it 23-7. The next time the Ducks had the ball, Clemens drove them 75 yards and Jared Siegel kicked a 33-yard field goal, cutting Indiana’s advantage to 23-10 and giving the noisy crowd of 57,550 some legitimate hope. The Hoosiers’ Lance Bennett quickly quieted the home fans, however, when he raced 98 yards for a touchdown with the ensuing kickoff. Clemens responded with touchdown passes of 59 yards to Demetrius Williams and 7 yards to Rosario to draw the Ducks within 30-24 with 8:38 to play. There was still enough time, and Oregon had several more chances, but two interceptions by Clemens sealed the deal. "Our defense kept giving us multiple chances in the second half and we just didn’t get the job done," said Clemens, who completed 24 of 44 passes for 317 yards and three scores but also suffered three interceptions and the lost fumble. "I really felt like we were going to win the game in the fourth quarter, but the two picks I threw kind of did us in." Oregon’s best chance to take the lead came after Robby Valenzuela recovered a fumble at the Indiana 27 with just under four minutes left in the game. A sideline pass to Williams gained 7 yards and a screen to Ryan Shaw moved the ball to the Hoosier 16. But on the following play Clemens tried to float a pass to tight end Tim Day along the left sideline and Indiana’s Herena-Daze Jones intercepted it at the 13. "I didn’t see the rover back (Jones) dropping — I should have thrown that ball into the third row of the seats," Clemens said. The Ducks enjoyed a 495-198 edge in total offense, but it was all for naught. Now it’s on to Norman, Okla., where the Ducks will face the second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners next Saturday. You get the feeling they would just as soon play the game today. "The main thing is we can’t get down our ourselves," Rosario said. "We just need to regroup." And hang on to the football. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities