By David Melo
Contributor, Duck Sports News
Six interceptions made by Oregon. 24-0 lead right before halftime. Seems pretty easy to win a game when that happens. Not so ten fast-flying years ago on this day! Especially against a very determined Cal Bear defense with an all-star guy named Delta O’Neal. Not until the sixth interception was made, was it clear that Oregon truly had the game in hand!
It was Saturday, November 13, 1999. Oregon traveled to California to face the Bears for the first time in three years, and the first time in Berkeley in four years. Oregon was entering the game still in the hunt for the Pac-10 title game, well recovered from a mid-season slump and on a three game winning streak. Early in the first quarter, now-NFL QB Kyle Boller rolled back to throw and had an open receiver. Little did he know the danger of Oregon corner Steve Smith, a sophomore who was just beginning to shine and went onto have an oustanding career. Smith made his second interception in as many weeks to give Oregon great field position. Oregon was unable to move the ball on third down, and went back to punt when…. FAKE! Upback Justin Wilcox (former QB) took the snap, ran the option into traffic, pitched the ball back to the dangerous Kurtis Doerr, who beautifully ran for his third first down on a fake that year. Deep into Bear territory, Oregon would face another fourth down on the same drive. On fourth and one, Cal looked for an option, but Harrington rolled back to pass and found Fullback Chad Chance wide open in first down territory. Chance not only converted, but had enough blockers to take it into the end zone for a twenty yard touchdown to give Oregon an early lead. 7-0 Oregon. The score remained 7-0 for some time. Late in the first quarter, Smith had another terrific defensive play. Cal attempted a trick play, by going for the “flea-flicker.” Boller was latteralled the ball from the tailback and went to throw, when Smith hit him as he threw. Smith’s hit caused a wild ball to fly right into the hands of Rasuli Webster, who made his first of many career interceptions for Oregon. Webster’s interception set up a field goal by Josh Frankel, who was doing very well that season in place of injured Nathan Villegas. His field goal was good to give Oregon a 10-0 lead, and to make him 11-13 on the year in field goals.
As the second quarter went on, the defensive battle continued. Cal stopped Oregon, Oregon stopped Cal. Mid way through, the legendary Peter Sirmon came through for Oregon as always, coming out of nowhere and making an amazing interception in Cal territory, almost running it back. He was unable to score, but the very next play saw Joey Harrington fire a perfect strike to LaCorey Collins for a touchdown. 17-0, Oregon. The battle continued down to under a minute in the half, when excitement really began. Reuben Droughns used his amazing physical power to plow his way into Bear territory. One run after another led Oregon into the red zone. With less than fifty seconds remaining, Harrington ran the option from inside the five yard line. As he was hit, he desperately pitched back an ill-advised option pitch to Herman HoChing, who bobbled the ball but managed to hang on and somehow find the end zone for the score. 24-0, Oregon. Cal took the kickoff and made their way to midfield with only fifteen seconds to in the half. Three plays failed, and with only a few seconds left, Cal only had one final play and their only prayer was a Hail Mary. Their Hail Mary was answered full of grace!!!! With four Oregon defenders covering, the intended receiver was too well covered and fell, and Michael Fletcher tipped the ball away. Somehow, the bounce off his hand was in Cal’s favor, bouncing right into a receiver’s hands in the end zone for the score! 24-6, Oregon, with the missed PAT heading into the half.
The second half was simply a defensive battle and an interception show. Early in the third quarter, Boller was knocked out for Cal by the hard-hitting Michael Fletcher. Cal’s reserve Wes Dalton was an Oregon native. He had a fairly good game, but first came in to throw an interception read beautifully by Brandon McLemore, an oustanding senior leader in the secondary who made a terrific dive to come up with the pick. Harrington, Droughns, and company seemed to be in control as they drove right downfield and into the red zone. Droughns had one run after another, and Harrington threw on the money. It appeared Oregon was going to take control of the game from there. Harrington found Marshaun Tucker at the goal line who had it. Tucker had it in his hands, when Deltha O’Neal made one of the year’s most remarkable plays, stealing the bobbling ball from Tucker in his end zone. O’Neal gave many Ducks a taste of Kenny Wheaton, running the ball 100 yards for the score. Cutting off one Oregon player at a time, only Harrington was left, who was blocked by a Bear to give Cal the score and keep them in the game. The two-point conversion failed, so Oregon still held a two-touchdown advantage. Later, Linebacker Matt Smith made another one of his many terrific interceptions, but sustained a knee injury.
Early in the fourth quarter, Dalton led a Bear drive. From the Oregon 40, Dalton threw a strike to a wide open receiver who broke free for a sixty yard touchdown. 24-19 Oregon. Only three big plays had led to Cal scores, and all the momentum. Many Oregon fans feared the worst, as they still had the bitter taste of the 1993 loss at Cal after a 30-0 lead was blown. To make matters worse, star linebacker Matt Smith was injured for the rest of the game. However, the Bears were unable to do anything on their next drive, thanks to their illness of “Fletcherism!” Michael Fletcher made two terrific plays, making a terrific blitz on third down to prevent the first. On the next play, Cal faked a punt. Punter Nick Harris (now a pro) threw it long downfield to a receiver, but should have known Fletch was already deep to make a punt return anyway. Fletch intercepted (though it counted for statistical purposes, letting it drop would have given Oregon the ball anyway and better field position!) With under five minutes to play, the score remained 24-19. Quarterback AJ Feeley was called upon on Oregon’s next possession. Feeley had opened the year as Oregon’s successful QB, but had lost the starting position after playing injured and success by Harrington. On third down, Feeley had a receiver, but was read by Cal and intercepted in Bear territory. Though outplayed and outgained in every category, Cal was then deep in Oregon territory with under three minutes to play and ready to steal the game.
Cal failed to convert, and faced third and goal from inside the five yard line. The Bears went to the bag of tricks and called for a “swinging gate” play. Dalton went in shotgun formation, all five linemen rolled right, and the tight end and receivers were the only men in front of the defensive line. Oregon read the play well, and were not fooled enough to send the defensive unit right (as even when rolling right, offensive linemen are still ineligible receivers.) The Tight End snapped the ball, and Dalton went back to throw. Dalton sailed the ball up for the Tight End who tripped in the end zone. Corner Brian Johnson had read the play beautifully, and jumped in front of the fallen Tight End to make a terrific interception at the one yard line and return to the three yard line. Johnson’s interception secured the victory with less than thirty seconds remaining, and saved the game to earn the top moment of the game. History did not repeat itself from 1993, as the Ducks held to win. 24-19, Oregon.
At 8-3, Oregon was guaranteed a bowl bid and a finish in the first division of the Pac-10. They had to continue to win to keep their slim Rose Bowl hopes alive, and had an outside shot with a Civil War win the following week (which they won but didn’t get the Rose Bowl since they didn’t play Stanford that year.) Luckily, each Pac-10 team does play the round robin now, so that is no longer of concern. Today’s Oregon team is facing similar circumstances, but still in control of their own destiny and not dependent on other teams. With good leadership and solid play like the USC game earlier (and the 1999 team’s solid five-win finish,) one can almost guarantee they’ve got what it takes to be the true Pac-10 champions and represent the conference in the Tournament of Roses!
