Oregon Ducks Find Their Answer on Offense, But Defense Is Still Questionable

Jeremiah Masoli threw for a career-high 298 yards and accounted for five Oregon touchdowns, leading the Ducks to a 55-45 victory against the Arizona Wildcats.

Masoli rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more on Saturday, all in the first half. The Ducks (8-3, 6-2 Pac-10 Conference) then withstood Arizona's second half rally from a 48-17 deficit.

Masoli, a sophomore, completed 21 of 26 passes, including all 11 of his attempts in the second quarter against Arizona (6-4, 4-3 Pac-10 Conference).

But it was Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount who sealed the victory with a 40-yard touchdown run with 3:38 to play after the Wildcats had 28 straight points to cut the Ducks lead to 48-45.

Blount, who tied the single-season school record with his 15th touchdown of the season, finished with 75 yards on nine carries.

Arizona's Keola Antolin rushed for 87 yards and four touchdowns and tight end Rob Gronkowski had 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.

Willie Tuitama had 328 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Ducks debuted their new "Lights Out" all-black uniforms and helmet, and that was the way they performed for the first half. Masoli scored on the third play of the game, running 66 yards on an option-keeper to put Oregon up 7-0 just 42 seconds in.

Less than a minute later, Patrick Chung stepped in front of Tuitama's pass and returned the interception 31 yards for the score.

The Wildcats cut the Ducks' lead 14-10 on a 29-yard field goal by Jason Bondizo and a two-yard run by Antolin. But Masoli hit Terrence Scott for a 44-yard touchdown pass to give Oregon a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Masoli had touchdown runs of five and six yards, Jeff Mahel scored on a 65-yard catch-and run from Masoli, and Morgan Flint added a 25-yard field goal to give Oregon a 45-17 lead at the break.

Flint added a 39-yard field goal 2:14 into the second half to make it 48-17 before the Wildcats came to life and nearly came all the way back.

Tuitama and Gronkowski connected on a seven-yard touchdown at the 8:53 mark of the third quarter to make it 48-24, and Antolin followed with fourth-quarter touchdown runs of three, one, and 13 yards. The last came with 6:38 to play.

Nothing can take this game away from Oregon. Jeremiah Masoli played the best game of his collegiate career, and carried the Ducks to victory with his first-half heroics. Whoever doubted the 5'10'' dual-threat quarterback can now take heart, because Masoli proved on Saturday why he was the most sought-after JUCO quarterback.

Oregon took their revenge on Arizona on Saturday, who upset the No. 2 ranked Ducks last season and ruined their national title hopes.

One large factor that needs to be addressed though is Oregon's defense. The most baffling part of their performance this season is that Oregon only lost one member of their secondary, and one linebacker to graduation last spring.

Yet, with all the immense talent that Oregon's defense holds, they are severely under-performing.

Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti is known for his two greatest doctrines: Character over talent, and Bend but not Break.

Oregon's defense displayed their bend-but-not-break mentality on Saturday, as they let Arizona score 28 unanswered points. This is seen as severe bending, but the defense never broke.

With two full weeks to prepare for a vengeful civil war, Aliotti needs to desperately address his defense. The kinks need to be worked out. The Ducks D-line will be Quizzed in two weeks, and they need to pass.

Can Oregon avenge their home loss to the confused brothers to the north last season? In two weeks, we will all know.