No. 2 Oregon pulls away again
Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (24) runs for a touch down in the fourth quarter during a NCAA college football game against Oregpon State. (Dec. 4, 2010) Credit: AP
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Heisman Trophy contender LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and fast-paced, No. 1 Oregon negotiated the last speed bump on the way to Glendale, Ariz., grinding out a 37-20 victory Saturday over Oregon State in the Civil War.
Leading 23-13 early in the fourth quarter, Barner's 23-yard touchdown run with 12:16 left made it 30-13 and James popped through the middle for a 10-yard score with 4:27 left to seal it.
The matchup with No. 1 Auburn in the national championship game on Jan. 10 will become official Sunday night.
"The best part about it is . . . we expected this [all season]," Ducks defensive tackle Brandon Bair said. "It's the way we prepared, the way we planned, we expected this."
James ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns and Barner had 133 yards and scored twice for the Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Pac-10), who used some stiff defense in the red zone - led by Bair and Casey Matthews - and three interceptions to fend off their feisty rivals.
Jacquizz Rodgers had 87 yards rushing for the Beavers (5-7, 4-5) and scored a touchdown, but they were forced to settle for short field goals twice in the third quarter.
"We should have gotten into the end zone on those field goals. It hurt us bad," said Markus Wheaton, who had 10 catches for 137 yards and a late touchdown that was too little too late.- AP
