No. 7 Oregon Faces Tough Test at Washington

You can hear the game live in Salem on 1430 KYKN AM, and in the Portland-metro area on 750 KXL AM.

Dennis Dixon has passed or run for 21 of Oregon's 33 offensive TDs in 2007. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

SEATTLE - No. 7 Oregon faces a tough test this weekend when the Ducks head north to take on Pac-10 rival Washington at Husky Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. and will be televised live on FSN.

THE SERIES

• Washington has more wins against the Ducks than any other UO opponent and leads the all-time series 58-36-5 (.611).

• Oregon is 21-33-4 (.397) against the Huskies in Seattle.

• UO’s last win at Husky Stadium came in 1997 (31-28).

• The Ducks’ current three-game winning streak against UW (all in Eugene) is their longest since taking four straight in the series from 1928 to 1931.

• The meeting between the two northwest rivals is their 100th, making Washington the second most common opponent for the Ducks behind Oregon State (110 games).

• The series began in 1900, a 43-0 shutout by the Webfoots in Seattle.

• The first 20 games between the two schools were played in Seattle (1900-25).

QUICK HITS

• Oregon comes in ranked fourth in the nation in rushing at 266.0 yards per game.

• Mike Bellotti coached his 100th Pac-10 game last Saturday and is 62-38 all-time versus league competition.

• The Ducks have lost three regulars on offense the last four weeks due to injury. SR WR Cameron Colvin (ankle), JR RB Jeremiah Johnson (knee) and SR WR Brian Paysinger (knee) combined for 11 of UO’s 34 TDs to date (32 percent).

• SR QB Dennis Dixon has thrown TD passes to seven different players in 2007.

• The Oregon defense has kept the opposition off the scoreboard in 10 of 24 quarters (42 percent) this season.

REED’S BIG DAY EARNS NATIONAL, PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

JR DE Nick Reed was named the national Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation as well as the Pac-10 defensive POTW for Week 7.

Reed led the Ducks’ defensive resurgence in the 53-7 Homecoming victory over Washington State Oct. 13, recording career highs of 3.5 sacks. 11 total tackles (6 solo) and 5.0 tackles for loss.

The two-year starter ranks third nationally in sacks per game (1.25) and fourth in tackles for loss per contest (2.17).

OREGON VS. WASHINGTON THUMBNAILS

• Washington SO QB Jake Locker and Oregon SR QB Dennis Dixon lead their respective teams in rushing touchdowns with six apiece.

• UW will be playing its fifth ranked opponent and third top 10 foe in seven games this season.

• No current Oregon players have played against Washington at Husky Stadium.

• JR ROV Patrick Chung has two career interceptions and a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Huskies.

• JR RB Jonathan Stewart is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has three career touchdowns vs. Washington.

• The Ducks have limited Husky SR RB Louis Rankin to 105 yards on 30 carries (3.5 ypg) in three career games vs. UO.

• Washington SR WR Anthony Russo has nine career catches against the Ducks for 141 yards and a touchdown over three games.

• UW has averaged 59.7 net rushing yards over the past three meetings against Oregon.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

Accentuating Oregon’s 5-1 start and top 10 national ranking (7th AP, 6th USA Today) is the fact that its schedule currently ranks as the 15th toughest in the country in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) in regards to winning percentage by its first six opponents.

Those six foes have accumulated a winning percentage of .633 (19-11 vs. FBS opponents not including Oregon), with four of the opponents boasting a .500 or better mark.

In addition, neither Michigan (5-0) nor Fresno State (3-0) has lost since being defeated by the Ducks.

When taking into account the accumulative winning percentages of all 12 of Oregon’s opponents (.612), its schedule ranks 14th in the country in strength.

OREGON FOOTBALL LIVE

Oregon’s final six regular season games will all be televised live, starting with the Oct. 20 game at Washington (4:30 p.m. on FSN).

All remaining kickoff times have been finalized with the exception of the UCLA game on Nov. 24, which will be at either 12:30, 3:30 or 4:30, depending on which TV outlet is awarded the broadcast.

The Nov. 3 home game against Arizona State (OSN) has been moved back 15 minutes and will now kickoff at 3:45 p.m.

LIGHTNING STRIKES

Of Oregon’s 33 total drives resulting in touchdowns this season, seven have taken 18 seconds or less, 12 have occurred in less than one minute and 19 have lasted fewer than 120 seconds. The Ducks have scored on their first offensive play in two games (Stanford & Wash. St.).

Source: goducks.com

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