CFB: Oregon pounds Washington State, 63-14
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer
PULLMAN, Wash. — Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount each ran for three touchdowns and Oregon thrashed Washington State 63-14 today, embarrassing the woeful Cougars during their homecoming game.
Jaison Williams caught two touchdown passes as Oregon (4-1, 2-0 Pac-10) rebounded from last weekend's loss to Boise State that knocked the Ducks out of the Top 25.
Washington State (1-4, 0-2) has been blown out by all four major college teams it has faced, beating only Portland State of the FCS last weekend. The Cougars managed only 271 yards as they continue to struggle under new coach Paul Wulff.
Earlier this season, they lost 66-3 to Cal for the worst margin of defeat in team history.
The outcome was somewhat predictable as Oregon came into the game averaging 43 points per game, while WSU's defense ranked near the bottom of all teams by allowing 39 ppg.
Oregon, averaging 300 rushing yards per game, ran for 346 yards and had 507 yards of total offense. Blount had 98 yards on 15 carries while Johnson finished with 89 yards on 10 carries.
The Ducks scored on their first three possessions to put the game away early.
On the opening possession of the game, WSU quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was stripped of the ball by Brandon Bair and Nick Reed recovered for the Ducks on WSU's 28. Johnson ran it in from the 7 for a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, WSU returner Chris Ivory fumbled and it was recovered on the 22 by Oregon's Jairus Byrd. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli fired a strike to Williams in the end zone and Oregon had a 14-0 lead just 3 minutes into the game.
Blount ran 13 yards up the middle for a touchdown on the Ducks' third possession.
Washington State had an 82-yard drive that was kept alive by a pass interference call that nullified an Oregon interception near its own end zone. Lobbestael fired a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jeshua Anderson to narrow Oregon's lead to 21-7.
But Oregon replied with an 80-yard drive highlighted by Johnson's 45-yard run that set up his 10-yard touchdown burst for a 28-7 lead. They went 78 yards on their next possession, with Blount going 3 yards up the middle for a 35-7 lead at halftime.
How good was Oregon's offense? On the opening drive of the second half, Oregon went for it on 4th-and-6 from the 33, with Masoli hitting Williams down the left sideline for a 42-7 lead.
Walter Thurmond killed WSU's next two drives with interceptions. Johnson scored after the second one for a 49-7 Oregon lead.
Lobbestael, a freshman, was making his first college start after Kevin Lopina and Gary Rogers both suffered fractures last weekend. He threw a pair of touchdown passes and completed 22 of 41 passes for 192 yards. Brandon Gibson had 10 receptions for 103 yards.
Oregon, which won 53-7 last year, leads the series 41-38-7.