By Don Smalley
DSN Contributor
12/31/2007

Oregon played nearly a perfect game in every phase of the football game in a dominating display in a 56-21 win over South Florida.

In the first half, the Ducks played well and scored 18 points. Many were not sure the Ducks would score that much in the game. But in the second half, Oregon showed that they are one of the best teams in the country.

The shock of losing Dennis Dixon clearly affected this team in the Arizona and UCLA games. The Ducks were beginning to snap out of it in the Civil War, a game that should have been won.

But the Ducks showed their true selves today by scoring a Sun Bowl record 56 points, 38 just in the second half.

South Florida has had some good wins this season, but it was clear they were not ready for the speed and the power the Ducks had in store for them. For a team that was once ranked No. 2, Oregon made them look pretty ordinary.

Justin Roper made the quarterback situation an interesting one as Spring ball comes. He made a huge case to be the No. 1 guy despite the recruits and the junior college transfers. Roper did not make a mistake and made plays.

Jonathan Stewart set a Sun Bowl record 253 yards and was running free and easy. The offensive line blocked very well and opened up those creases that we saw earlier in the year. Stewart told the Oregon Sports Network that he hasn’t made a decision whether or not to go to the NFL. But after this performance on national TV, it’s hard to believe that we’ll see Stewart in a Duck uniform again.

It was also great to see Garren Strong score one more touchdown for the Ducks and his brother and to see what a good receiver Jasison Williams is capable of being.

The defense played great and hit hard … very, very hard. Ask South Florida’s Matt Grothe how hard as he missed much of the second half with a major concussion.

Oregon ends the season 9-4 and perhaps there is more excitement around the football program than there ever has been before.

Tags: Don Smalley, Ducks, Football, oregon, Sun Bowl