Game 10 | 10 - 0 | Mariota leads No. 2 Oregon past California 59-17

Mariota leads No. 2 Oregon past California 59-17

By JOSH DUBOW (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press – 5 hours ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mariota-leads-no-2-oregon-065808407--ncaaf.html

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- In a blink of an eye, Marcus Mariota and Oregon turned a tight game into another blowout that could have the second-ranked Ducks in position to move into the top spot in the country.

Mariota threw the third of his school record-tying six touchdown passes on the first play after an interception to break open what had been a close game and help Oregon make its case for the top ranking in the country by beating California 59-17 on Saturday night.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws against California during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

While the final score was lopsided, the game was tight until midway through the third quarter when Boseko Lokombo intercepted a screen pass from Allan Bridgford. Mariota threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Josh Huff on the next play to give the Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Pac-12) a 31-17 lead.

''That kind of got things going again,'' Mariota said. ''It flipped the momentum. It's really a momentum game. That helped us out.''

The Ducks withstood injuries to its entire starting defensive line and brief absences by Mariota and star running back Kenjon Barner to extend the longest active winning streak in major college football to 13 games.

The win over California (3-8, 2-6) could be enough to move Oregon up to No. 1 after top-ranked Alabama lost earlier in the day 29-23 to No. 15 Texas A&M. Even more importantly, the Crimson Tide loss cleared one potential rival for a spot in the BCS title game, leaving Notre Dame and Kansas State as the only other major undefeated teams eligible for a bowl. The Ducks are currently third in the BCS rankings.

''That's what's so good about this team,'' Huff said. ''We don't pay attention to the rankings and what's around us. We just play Oregon football. We'll pick our heads up in December and we'll see where we're at.''

After struggling for more than a half against a Golden Bears team that was missing quarterback Zach Maynard and star receiver Keenan Allen, the Ducks will have to be more consistent the next few weeks if they want to remain unbeaten. They finish the regular season against No. 16 Stanford and No. 13 Oregon State and also could be in the Pac-12 title game.

Oregon raced past the Bears with their passing game instead of the vaunted running attack that had rushed for at least 400 yards in the previous three games. Cal held Barner to 65 yards on 20 carries - 256 fewer yards than he had last week against USC - and even knocked him out briefly with a hard hit that sent him to the locker room in the first half.

''They did a good job of filling the box,'' Mariota said. ''That gave us and the passing game more opportunity to do what we can do. That's the kind of thing that happens when you have such a good running back like Kenjon. Guys fill the box to stop him.''

Mariota also left the game after a hard fall late in the second quarter but returned the following series. He then helped the Ducks break the game open in the second half with four TD passes, including two to Huff.

Mariota completed 27 of 34 passes for a career-high 377 yards and tied the school TD record last achieved by Darron Thomas last year against Nevada. Huff finished with five catches for 109 yards and three scores as the Ducks set a major college football record by scoring at least 40 points for a 13th straight game.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, left, runs past a California defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

''You have to pick your poison really with them,'' Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. ''If you're going to get up in there and try to stop the run, then the play-action, you're covering really fast guys running down the field.''

The biggest moment came midway through the third quarter after the Bears cut Oregon's lead to 24-17 and got a stop on defense to fire up a crowd that has had little to cheer about this season.

Isi Sofele, who rushed for 134 yards, had been gashing Oregon's defense in the second half and started this drive with a 14-yard run. But Cal went away from him and Bridgford threw the interception under heavy pressure from Arik Armstead that turned the tides as Oregon scored the final 35 points.

''From then on it just stockpiled,'' safety Brian Jackson said. ''It was very important to that game.''

That ended the Bears chances in the final home game of the season and perhaps final home game for Tedford at Cal. There have been questions raised about Tedford's status after missing a bowl for the second time in three years. The Bears have lost four straight for the first time ever under Tedford.

Bridgford finished 9 for 21 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

''We felt like at halftime we were going to win the game,'' Bridgford said. ''The second half they pulled away a little bit, but we had our chances. We beat ourselves.''

Mariota left the game holding his left arm in the second quarter but returned after Vincenzo D'Amato missed a 48-yard field goal late in the half for Cal. Mariota drove the Ducks 69 yards, capped by a 10-yard pass to Huff that made it 24-10 at the half.

Game 10 | Oregon - California Preview

Oregon-California Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON (STATS Writer) | The Associated Press – Wed, Nov 7, 2012 12:39 AM EST

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/oregon-california-preview-053936011--ncaaf.html

Kenjon Barner's record-setting night helped Oregon pass one major test and move closer toward a spot in the BCS championship game.

The second-ranked Ducks have a couple more tests on the horizon but first they have to avoid an upset during Saturday night's visit to struggling California, which may not have its starting quarterback available.

Barner rushed for a program-best 321 yards and scored five times on the ground, matching a Pac-12 mark, to lead Oregon to a 62-51 win at then-No. 18 Southern California this past Saturday. Marcus Mariota also threw for four touchdowns and the Ducks gained 730 yards while matching a school record with their 12th straight victory.

Barner's performance surely boosted his Heisman Trophy candidacy, and he'll try to add to his resume Saturday.

"It's a blessing. It's an honor," Barner said. "But I don't really worry about it. I can't worry about that, I can't focus on that right now because there's still a lot of football left and anything can happen."

More importantly, his effort helped the Ducks move past Notre Dame for third in the BCS standings.

Oregon (9-0, 6-0) trails second-place Kansas State by .0152 and could get a boost with wins over No. 16 Stanford and No. 13 Oregon State to wrap up the season. Before they get to those games, the Ducks have to get past Cal (3-7, 2-5).

"I think we're going to get everyone's best shot no matter who we play," linebacker Michael Clay said. "They're going to come out fired up and ready to get at us. So we just have to be ready for that, especially on road games. We have to weather the storm."

Oregon has won three straight over the Golden Bears after losing three in a row, but the Ducks trailed at halftime in last season's meeting before pulling away for a 43-15 win. Oregon erased a one-point deficit by scoring 29 unanswered points on Oct. 6, 2011.

During its previous visit to Berkeley on Nov. 13, 2010, Oregon needed a punt return touchdown and another score early in the fourth quarter for a 15-13 win.

"It was a dogfight," Clay said. "They missed a field goal, but it was a dogfight. It'll be another one down there."

This time, the Ducks will face a Cal team that's lost three straight and might not have starting quarterback Zach Maynard available. Maynard is dealing with an injured left knee and Allan Bridgford could start in his place.

Bridgford has attempted a combined 48 passes for the Bears and hasn't thrown for a touchdown in his six games. He started in the season opener against Nevada on Sept. 1 when Maynard was disciplined for missing a tutoring session but completed only two of nine passes for six yards.

The junior went 2 of 7 for 26 yards after Maynard got hurt against Washington on Nov. 2 and couldn't lead Cal to a tying score in a 21-13 defeat.

"It would be different if it were my first time playing a college football game but it's not," Bridgford said. "I've played a number of games. I've thrown a handful of passes. I'm not overly nervous. I'm just ready to have fun and waiting to have my shot."

Maynard, though, doesn't have ligament damage in his knee and coach Jeff Tedford will likely wait to see how the injury heals before choosing a starter.

"It's totally dependent on how he's moving and what he feels like," Tedford said. "Each day it gets a little bit better. It's kind of out of our control. He'll get as much rehab as he can and it's just how he responds to that."

Along with its three game win-streak in the series, Oregon has taken 11 of the past 15 meetings. Cal, though, holds a 39-33-2 all-time lead and a 26-15-2 edge on home matchups.

Game 9 | Barner's school-record 324 rushing yards lead Oregon over USC

Barner's school-record 324 rushing yards lead Oregon over USC

By The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – 8 hours ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/barners-school-record-324-rushing-042012630--ncaaf.html

LOS ANGELES -- Oregon tailback Kenjon Barner put on a Heisman-worthy performance Saturday night, scoring five touchdowns and rushing for a school-record 324 yards as the No. 4 Ducks blew past No. 17 USC 62-51 before 93,607 fans at The Coliseum.

The teams combined for 1,357 yards, but the Ducks were the superior team as Barner's running kept USC off-balance for much of the game.

Barner wasn't the only one to be part of five touchdowns as USC quarterback Matt Barkley threw for five scores and 489 yards in the losing cause.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (24) scores a touchdown as teammate Rahsaan Vaughn (10) blocks Southern California cornerback Nickell Robey (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

"We felt like, if we could hold serve, that was a big deal for us," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "I knew those guys were good."

So were the Ducks. Barner was nearly perfect and quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 20 of 23 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns. Barner set an Oregon record for yards in a single game and a USC opponent record.

"It's just a great rivalry and tonight we got the best of them," Barner said.

USC coach Lane Kiffin went to the Oregon locker room after the game to congratulate Barner.

"We felt like it would be a heavyweight championship fight and there would be huge death blows," Kiffin said. "I don't know if there's ever been a game with only two punts combined."

Barner's 5-yard touchdown run with 9:15 left gave the Ducks a 55-38 lead that they did not relinquish.

After three quarters, Barner already had 250 yards, a USC opponent record. The Ducks had 737 yards, far eclipsing the USC opponent record of 623 yards set by Notre Dame in 1946. Oregon's 61 points also were the most the Trojans have allowed in a game.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (24) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. Oregon won 62-51. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

USC tailback Silas Redd cut Oregon's lead to 34-31 on a 2-yard run with 9:59 left in the third quarter, the closest the Trojans got since it was 7-3 in the first quarter. Oregon struck back with a 10-yard run from Barner to make it 41-31, but Marqise Lee returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the Oregon 16-yard line and Redd scored on a 2-yard run to cut Oregon's lead to 41-38.

Oregon took only 65 seconds to start the scoring as Mariota coolly took the team 75 yards in five plays, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown pass to De'Anthony Thomas.

USC responded with a 39-yard field goal by Andre Heidari after an apparent 44-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor was ruled incomplete after a video review.

But Oregon ignored that score and went another 75 yards in just more than three minutes, with Mariota throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Josh Huff and a 14-yard advantage.

USC drove inside Oregon's 10-yard line on the next possession, but the Ducks' Ifo Ekpre-Olomu intercepted the pass in the end zone.

The Ducks then toyed again with USC's defense as Barner made a terrific 27-yard touchdown run on third-and-5. Barner zigzagged through the Trojans' defense like no tailback has this season.

Just when it looked like a blowout, Barkley found a wide-open Lee for a 75-yard touchdown pass that made it 21-10 with 14:36 left in the first half.

That did not faze the Ducks, who merely went 87 yards with ease as Barner scored on a 5-yard touchdown.

But Barkley found Robert Woods on an 8-yard touchdown pass and it suddenly was 27-17 with 5:59 left. Oregon then took 50 seconds to score another touchdown before Barkley found Nelson Agholor for a 76-yard touchdown pass.

Notes: Lee set a Pac-12 record with 251 yards in kickoff returns. ... USC had never allowed an opposing team to score 62 points. The previous record was Stanford's 56 last season.

Game 9 | Kenjon Barner and up-tempo Oregon fly by USC, dream matchup vs. Alabama on everyone's mind

Kenjon Barner and up-tempo Oregon fly by USC, dream matchup vs. Alabama on everyone's mind

7 hours ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--kenjon-barner-oregon-offense-alabama-defense-dream-matchup.html

LOS ANGELES – LaMichael James, who left Oregon as the best running back the school has ever seen, stood underneath the tunnel at the L.A. Coliseum and talked about the greatest offense he's ever seen.

Kenjon Barner celebrates with teammates after scoring in the first half. (AP)

And really, what else could he say? His former team, the Oregon Ducks, had just dropped 62 points on USC (which scored 51 in a losing effort) in a game that should have Nick Saban's head spinning.

Yeah, we'll get to Saban in a moment.

But back to the Ducks, who showed Tinseltown why they're college football's version of George Clooney. On Saturday, they scored early – touchdown No. 1 came one minute, five seconds into the game – they scored often – five TDs by halftime – and they scored with ease – nine TDs total on 14 offensive possessions.

Five of those came from Kenjon Barner, who racked up 324 yards rushing (a school record) and still wasn't the Ducks’ offensive leader on the night. That award went to freshman Marcus Mariota, who threw for 304 yards and ran for 119 more.

In a nutshell, this is Oregon football: try to score on every single play and if they don't, line up as fast as they can so they can try again.

And this is why it's so enticing to root for Alabama vs. Oregon in what would be the juiciest season finale in years.

It was just last month that Alabama coach Nick Saban cried foul over the hurry-up offense, saying that it doesn't allow defenses to line up, puts them at greater risk of injury and insinuated that it was ruining the game.

"I just think there's got to be some sense of fairness in terms of asking: is this what we want football to be?" he wondered allowed.

This bit of whine came after Saban's Crimson Tide beat up Ole Miss, a Pinto of an offense in comparison to Oregon's Ferrari.

Chip Kelly's full-throttle attack is a sight to behold. There's nothing flashy about it, other than it always seems to move forward. (Barner rushed the ball 38 times against USC; 36 of those went for positive yards.) They run stretch plays to the left, stretch plays to the right, their receivers block downfield really well, and just when you think they're going to run it again, boom, Mariota pops one over the top.

It's a double-barrel attack that can endure even 484 yards and five touchdowns from Matt Barkley.

The "We are SC" crowd is surely wondering now if Lane Kiffin is the future of the program, this after loss No. 3 in a season the Trojans entered ranked No. 1 in the polls. But really, what could Kiffin do? His offense slapped 51 points on the board and never had a chance.

The question now is, does anyone?

Going into Saturday, the obvious answer was Alabama. But after struggling to hold back an LSU team whose offense is as explosive as a golf clap, it's clear the Tide are not the world-beaters we thought they were. (Somewhere, Steve Spurrier is chuckling about that.)

Kenjon Barner scores in the third quarter of Oregon's win over USC. (Getty)

But if there is a team that can slow the Ducks, Alabama is it. And if there is a team that can slice through the stiff 'Bama defense, it's Oregon.

When asked if he would relish the chance to take their hurry-up attack against Alabama, Barner refused to take the bait.

"I'm not thinking about Nick Saban," he said. "I'm just focused on playing Oregon football."

That's what makes the prospect of Oregon vs. Alabama in the BCS title so intriguing.

Yes, there's still a long way to go between now and then, and Kansas State and Notre Dame are still in the championship picture. But this – Oregon vs. Alabama – is the dream matchup to end the 2012 season.

It would be strength vs. strength. Cardiac Kelly vs. Systematic Saban. West Coast flair vs. Southeastern tradition.

Simply, it would be the two best teams in college football playing in a championship game not even a four-team playoff could guarantee.

It'd be so perfect, it would almost make us forget how much we hate the BCS.

Almost.

Game 9 | 9 - 0 | Oregon 62, USC 51

Oregon 62, USC 51

By The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – 8 hours ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/oregon-62-usc-51-030009514--ncaaf.html

LOS ANGELES -- Oregon tailback Kenjon Barner put on a Heisman-worthy performance Saturday night, scoring five touchdowns and rushing for a school record 324 yards as the No. 4 Ducks blew past No. 17 USC 62-51 before 93,607 fans at The Coliseum.

The teams combined for 1,357 yards, but the Ducks were the superior team as Barner's running kept USC off-balance for much of the game.

Barner wasn't the only one to be part of five touchdowns as USC quarterback Matt Barkley threw for five scores and 489 yards in the losing cause.

Barner's 5-yard touchdown run with 9:15 left gave the Ducks a 55-38 lead that they did not relinquish.

After three quarters, Barner already had 250 yards, a USC opponent record. The Ducks had 737 yards, far eclipsing the USC opponent record of 623 yards set by Notre Dame in 1946. Oregon's 61 points also were the most the Trojans have allowed in a game.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (24) breaks a tackle by Southern California cornerback Nickell Robey (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. Oregon won 62-51. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

USC tailback Silas Redd cut Oregon's lead to 34-31 on a 2-yard run with 9:59 left in the third quarter, the closest the Trojans got since it was 7-3 in the first quarter. Oregon struck back with a 10-yard run from Barner to make it 41-31, but Marqise Lee returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the Oregon 16-yard line and Redd scored on a 2-yard run to cut Oregon's lead to 41-38.

Lee had an outstanding game in both receiving (12 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns) and kickoff returns (9 for 234 yards).

Oregon took only 65 seconds to start the scoring as Mariota coolly took the team 75 yards in five plays, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown pass to De'Anthony Thomas.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) carries the ball before he is run down by Southern California cornerback Nickell Robey (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

USC responded with a 39-yard field goal by Andre Heidari after an apparent 44-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor was ruled incomplete after a video review.

But Oregon ignored that score and went another 75 yards in just more than three minutes, with Mariota throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Josh Huff and a 14-yard advantage.

USC drove inside Oregon's 10-yard line on the next possession, but the Ducks' Ifo Ekpre-Olomu intercepted the pass in the end zone.

The Ducks then toyed again with USC's defense as Barner made a terrific 27-yard touchdown run on third-and-5. Barner zigzagged through the Trojans' defense like no tailback has this season.

Just when it looked like a blowout, Barkley found a wide-open Lee for a 75-yard touchdown pass that made it 21-10 with 14:36 left in the first half.

That did not faze the Ducks, who merely went 87 yards with ease as Barner scored on a 5-yard touchdown.

But Barkley found Robert Woods on an 8-yard touchdown pass and it suddenly was 27-17 with 5:59 left. Oregon then took 50 seconds to score another touchdown before Barkley found Nelson Agholor for a 76-yard touchdown pass.

Game 9 | 9 - 0 | Barner, No. 2 Oregon beat No. 18 USC 62-51

Barner, No. 2 Oregon beat No. 18 USC 62-51

By GREG BEACHAM (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press – 6 hours ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/barner-no-2-oregon-beat-030126380--ncaaf.html

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kenjon Barner knew it was his last chance to play back home in Southern California with dozens of friends and family members in the Coliseum stands, all of them waiting for something special.

The Oregon tailback had a little something for them, all right - and with plenty of help he kept the No. 2 Ducks on track in the national title race.

Barner ran for a school-record 321 yards and five touchdowns, Marcus Mariota threw four TD passes, and Oregon produced another landmark offensive performance in a 62-51 victory over No. 18 Southern California on Saturday night.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

Barner celebrated every touchdown with vigor, although the Riverside, Calif., native playfully refused to talk about what he might have shouted to the Trojans' dismayed fans.

Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Pac-12) racked up 730 yards and 62 points - the most ever allowed by USC, which began playing football in 1888.

''Well, I'm from L.A., so it means a lot,'' Barner said with a shrug. ''We know we have an exceptional offense, but this was a great test for us to have to play four quarters and fight to the end. We're going to benefit from this in the long run. As a competitor, you want to be in a great game if you can.''

The teams combined for the third-highest scoring game involving ranked teams in the 76-year history of the AP poll. The ones ahead of it also came this year, with West Virginia beating Baylor 70-63 and Texas A&M topping Louisiana Tech 59-57.

Barner, a product of Riverside, Calif., set a rushing record for a USC opponent by the third quarter, topping Curtis Enis' 241 yards for Penn State in 1996, and smashed LaMichael James' Oregon record shortly afterward.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

He didn't get his usual late-game break, either: With Matt Barkley and his receivers shredding Oregon's defense, the Ducks' offense stood up to its first late-game pressure of the season.

''We're built for that, though,'' said Mariota, who went 20 of 23 for 304 yards without an interception. ''We go through a lot of conditioning, and we're always ready to play four quarters. This was a good test for us.''

Josh Huff caught two touchdown passes, and De'Anthony Thomas and Daryl Hawkins also scored as the Ducks outlasted USC in a back-and-forth second half to extend their winning streak to 12 games since the Trojans (6-3, 4-3) won in Eugene last season.

Barkley passed for 484 yards and four touchdowns while hitting Marqise Lee with 12 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns for the Trojans, who have lost two straight after a 6-1 start.

Barkley contained any frustration he might feel about USC's defense, which never slowed down Oregon.

''We've done a great job moving the ball since the beginning of the season, and we've just got to do a better job putting the ball in the end zone,'' Barkley said.

Oregon, which is likely to move up in the BCS standings after this win and Notre Dame's narrow victory, had won every game this season by at least 17 points.

Another laugher appeared to be upcoming when Oregon took a 21-3 lead 12 seconds into the second quarter, but Barkley threw TD passes of 75 yards to Lee and 76 yards to Nelson Agholor in the second quarter. USC's offense did its part, scoring more points and gaining more yards (615) than Oregon had allowed all year.

The Trojans' defense simply couldn't keep up with Oregon's relentless pace and precision.

''We haven't lost a road game since Nov. 7, 2009, and I think that's because we don't make a big deal of it,'' Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. ''We knew those guys were good, so we had to do whatever it takes. When two great teams go against each other, things are going to happen.''

Mariota also rushed for another 96 yards.

USC's defense harassed Darron Thomas into a sub-par performance in this matchup last season, but the freshman who has replaced him showed absolutely no nerves in the historic stadium while playing against the team expected to be Oregon's biggest obstacle in Pac-12 play.

Robert Woods also caught a scoring pass for USC.

The Trojans twice pulled within three points in the second half, but Barner was viciously effective on almost every drive, and USC's defense had no answer.

''We were in the showers just now, thinking about it,'' USC linebacker Hayes Pullard said. ''We told ourselves it can't ever happen again. We knew they were extremely fast. A lot of them are from here, so we know them. We just couldn't get stops.''

The Trojans' 38-35 win in Eugene last November was arguably the highlight of Barkley's four-year career, snapping the Ducks' 21-game home winning streak and 19-game conference streak while knocking Oregon out of the national championship race.

But USC got off to a fast start at Autzen Stadium in that shocker, and the Ducks were much quicker in the rematch at the Coliseum.

In fact, the Ducks needed just 65 seconds to take the lead, with Thomas' 16-yard TD reception capping a five-play drive while the late-arriving part of the sellout crowd filed into the Coliseum.

Barkley hit Woods and Agholor for scores in the final minutes before halftime to keep the lead down to 34-24.

The Ducks gained 460 yards in the first half, yet weren't in control.

Redd's first TD trimmed the Ducks' lead to three points, but Oregon converted two fourth downs on their next drive, ending in Barner's third TD.

Randall Telfer caught a short TD pass with 5:27 to play, and USC narrowly missed recovering an onside kick.

Barkley had one more chance to drive, but turned it over on downs with 3 minutes left. Agholor had six catches for 162 yards, and Silas Redd rushed for 92 yards and two TDs.

Game 8 | 8 - 0 | No. 2 Ducks Move to 8-0 with 70-14 Win over Colorado

No. 2 Ducks Move to 8-0 with 70-14 Win over Colorado

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205720917

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Kenjon Barner rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 2 Oregon easily took care of Colorado 70-14 on Saturday in advance of next weekend's Pac-12 showdown with 10th-ranked USC.

De'Anthony Thomas rushed for another score and added a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown before most of the Ducks' offensive starters were pulled midway through the second quarter. Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota passed for 136 yards and two TDs.

The Ducks (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12) built a 56-0 lead by halftime and their 70 points were the most they'd ever scored against a conference opponent. It was Oregon's 11th straight overall victory dating to a 38-35 loss at home to USC last season.

Christian Powell rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns for the Buffaloes (1-7, 1-4), who lost their fourth straight.

The Ducks piled up 617 yards in total offense, including 425 on the ground, and the Buffs simply could not keep up. Colorado went into the game ranked 112th in the nation on defense, allowing an average of 489 yards. Oregon had 447 by halftime.

Colorado has yielded at least 50 points in its last three games, including last weekend's 50-6 loss to USC.

Oregon scored twice at the start of the game - on Barner's 1-yard run and Thomas' 9-yard run - before Colorado's offense even got the ball. Mariota added a 5-yard scoring run then hit Bralon Addison with a 16-yard TD all before the first quarter ended.

Barner added a 24-yard scoring run before Thomas' stunning 73-yard punt return gave Oregon a 42-0 lead. Mariota found Daryle Hawkins with a 7-yard touchdown pass before leaving the game with most of Oregon's other starters.

Backup Ducks quarterback Bryan Bennett added a touchdown on a 6-yard keeper before the break and Oregon's 56 points at halftime were its most since scoring 59 on New Mexico in 2010.

Powell had a 1-yard scoring run early in the third quarter to avoid the shutout for the Buffs, then added a 20-yard TD dash to narrow it to 56-14. Bennett answered with two keepers, from 3 and 17 years out, to put Oregon up 70-14.

Colorado coach Jon Embree started junior quarterback Jordan Webb before putting in sophomore Nick Hirschman. Webb completed seven of 11 passes for 31 yards, while Hirshman finished 7 of 16 for 64 yards.

While Oregon remained at No. 2 in the AP Top 25 this week, the Ducks dropped to No. 4 in the BCS standings, which prompted coach Chip Kelly to quip that perhaps the computers were shut down at night before the Ducks played.

A victory against USC next weekend would go a long way toward proving that Oregon is worthy of higher standing. The Nov. 3 game at the Coliseum has been touted by many as the most important Pac-12 game of the season - or at least a preview of the conference championship game.

Last year the then-No. 18 Trojans came to Autzen Stadium and won, dropping the Ducks from No. 4 to No. 9 in the polls and effectively dashing any hopes at a national title bid. USC is considered Oregon's biggest threat again this season.