SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 4, 2010
Top-ranked Oregon likely secured a spot in the BCS Championship game with a 37-20 win over Oregon State Saturday.
Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Pac 10) will have to wait for the final BCS standings to be released Sunday night, but it's doubtful the Ducks will be denied a spot in the title game Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz.
The visiting Ducks fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter, but their powerful offense took over. LaMichael James ran for two touchdows and Darron Thomas passed for two more as the Ducks won the in-state battle known as the Civil War.
The loss cost Oregon State (5-7, 4-5 Pac 10) a chance at a bowl game.
The Beavers took the lead with 3:26 to play in the first quarter when Ryan Katz threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jacquizz Rodgers, but Oregon State didn't find the end zone again until there was 1:18 to play in the game.
Oregon answered when Darron Thomas hit Kenjon Barner with a 3-yard scoring pass, but a botched hold led to a missed extra point. Oregon State led 7-6 after one quarter.
Beard's field goal at the 12:12 mark of the second quarter put the Ducks ahead for good. James then scored on an 8-yard run, putting Oregon ahead 16-7 at halftime.
Drew Davis caught a 19-yard scoring pass from Thomas with 8:46 left in the third quarter. Justin Kahut kicked field goals of 26 and 22 yards, but the Beavers still trailed just 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Kenjon Barner put Oregon up by 17 points with a 23-yard scoring run.