Sports in High Gear.

David R.

September 19, 2010 - 5:05 PM

Fall is a great time of the year for any sports fan. Football is back and it's crunch time in major league baseball. Oregon Ducks football is rolling and we are the team to beat in the Pacific 10.

On Saturday the Portland State Vikings made a trip down to Eugene to take on the Ducks who are sitting at number five in the country. Im am all for optimistic thinking, but after catching word of Oregon's trouncing of New Mexico, the Vikings couldn't have possibly thought that they had any chance of winning. The fall weather is back and it was raining for the entire game. It clearly sometimes rains in Autzen, despite the popular "it never rains in Autzen" pre game cheer. Luckily I had a rain jacket or else I would have been soaked by game's end.

The Ducks game out guns blazing and were once again up to a safe large lead before the end of the first quarter. ESPN noted that the Ducks are leading the nation in the points per game category. The Ducks are averaging around 63 points per game and have over-powered every defense they have faced all season long. The team will be in Tempe next week to take on the ASU Sun Devils, who almost knocked off number 11 Wisconsin on the road this weekend. If Arizona State brings a similar effort next week our Ducks may have their work cut out for them. I'm not too worried though. Our team looks phenomenal in all aspects, and our defense has given up 13 points in three games. That unit is a force to be reckoned with and will play a huge role in the team's success this season.

The next home game is against Stanford who is slowly making its way up in the polls. Andrew Luck has looked strong thus far and the Ducks will have to take revenge for last year's defeat at Stanford. Oregon is in perfect position to win the Pac 10 and has looked like arguably the best team in the nation through three weeks.

While the college football season is just beginning, major league baseball is as exciting as ever. The Colorado Rockies are making their annual September burst and the San Diego Padres are losing control of the division that they have dominated for months.

As I write this the Rockies are in extra innings with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. As of now the Giants are winning the division and the Rockies are one game back of the lead, trailing the Padres by half a game. With the Giants snagging a win today, the Rockies desperately need a win today to keep themselves in the hunt for October.

While Carlos Gonzalez has put up MVP numbers, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has hit 15 home runs in his last 16 games, not including today's game. The man is out of his mind and is clearly doing whatever he can to make the push to Rocktober.

The Denver Broncos got their first win of the season today beating the Seahawks in Denver. Kyle Orton looked impressive and the Broncos won by a comfortable lead. In his second season with Denver, only time will tell if he has what it takes to take the franchise back to the promised land.