I Smell Roses

David R.

November 22, 2009 - 12:32 PM

According to Chris Morrison, a writer for Sports Illustrated, "Droughts are a fact of life in the desert, but a frustrating one could soon end." Morrison was referring to the fact that the Arizona Wildcats are the only team in the Pacific 10 Conference that has never gone to a Rose Bowl. But, this year they had a shot. All they had to do was win their remaining three games, including a David and Goliath battle in their own stadium with the number 11 Oregon Ducks.

On Saturday, with a negative vibe still looming over Arizona Stadium, the Ducks made the trek down to Tucson to play the Wildcats, in what turned out to be one of the most incredible football games of the year. The game had had stars circled around it for weeks, as many were finally able to realize that up to Saturday night, the Pacific 10 Conference title was still up for Arizona to grab. College Gameday made their scheduled appearance, just to up the stakes a little more.

The game started out as the analysts would have expected, as the Ducks drove down the field with little difficulty on their first drive of the game. After a Masoli touchdown, the Ducks went up 7-0, which quickly turned into 14-0 to nothing after a touchdown to Jeff Maehl, and many began to think that Oregon might run away with it. Wrong. The Wildcats were able to make a push, bringing their deficit to only four at the end of the first half. The Wildcats came out and scored to open up the second half. The momentum from this score carried on, and all of a sudden the Ducks found themselves down by ten. After fighting back to tie it up, Arizona was able to complete a screen pass that went for 70 yards to put them up by a touchdown with seven minutes left to play. As time wound down, Oregon found itself with the ball, down seven, with less than a minute to play. The Ducks drove down the field, converting at least one fourth down play to keep the drive alive. Finally, with six seconds remaining in regulation, Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was able to find Ed Dickson for a touchdown that tied the game at 31.

In the first overtime, Oregon received the ball first, and again, Masoli was able to find Jeff Maehl in the Back of the end zone for a touchdown, giving Oregon the lead back. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles answered back completing a quick out route for six points.

With the game tied, and moving into a second overtime, the roles were switched, and Arizona took the ball first. After three plays and no progress, the Wildcats were forced to kick a field goal putting them up by three. This put the Ducks in position to win the game with a touchdown. With confidence and ease, the high-powered offense rolled toward the end zone, and Jeremiah Masoli ended the game as he started it with a run for six.

This Oregon victory means one thing: The Civil War in Eugene this year is for the Rose Bowl, the winner of which is projected to play Ohio State. There is nothing better during the fall term than following Oregon football. Hopefully we can pull it out against the Beavers so I can make a trip to Pasadena.