Sat. August 30, 2008
*Johnson, Oregon overpower Washington*
EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) -- Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns to lead 20th-ranked Oregon to a 44-10 romp over Washington in a Pac-10 game on Saturday.
Johnson opened the scoring with a four-yard run just 4:40 into the game. The Ducks doubled the lead five minutes later, when Justin Roper and Terence Scott combined on a 60-yard scoring play.
Roper, Jeremiah Masoli and T.J. Ward saw time at the quarterback spot for Oregon, combining to go 16-of-27 for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Scott led the way with six catches for 117 yards and the score.
"They weren't perfect by any means, but they did a nice job and made things happen," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of his quarterbacks.
Washington scored 10 points in the second quarter to draw within four, but that was as good as it got for the Huskies. The Ducks scored 30 straight points in the second half while gaining nearly 500 yards in total offense on the night.
"The outcome was one we didn't anticipate," Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said.
Johnson rushed for a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter before the Ducks doused the Huskies with a 23-point explosion in the final quarter.
"We're better than this," Washington running back Chris Polk said. "I was prepared, but I didn't expect (the crowd) to be this hostile."
Masoli threw TD passes of 48 yards to Jaison Williams and 25 yards to Jeffrey Maehl as the game turned into a rout.
Jake Locker was ineffective, going 12-of-28 for 103 yards for Washington.
"I thought our defense did a great job of containing him to a degree," Bellotti said.