Nov. 3, 2007
By Matt Storey, ASU Media Relations
ASU's run at perfection came to an end Saturday, as Oregon defeated the Sun Devils 35-23 at Autzen Stadium.
Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon's four touchdown passes, the Ducks emerged victorious from the battle of BCS Top 5 teams and moved into the driver's seat in the race for the Pac-10 title.
"I have to give Oregon credit," head coach Dennis Erickson said. "They came out like wildfire on offense. They're one of the better offenses that I've seen."
The Sun Devil defense, which came in leading the Pac-10 in scoring defense, struggled to stop an Oregon offense that led the Pac-10 and was third in the nation averaging 43.8 points per game.
Dixon led the Ducks offense by going 13-22 passing for 189 yards, and he also had 57 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Running back Jonathan Stewart ran for 99 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, and wide receiver Jaison Williams had five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
"We had a rough time defending their offense," safety Troy Nolan said. "We gave up a lot of big plays, and that's what hurt us."
The Sun Devils also forced just one turnover, despite entering the game as the Pac-10 leader in turnover margin at +7, and they failed to record a sack.
ASU's offense was led by quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who battled through a thumb injury to finish 22-36 passing for 379 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
However, Carpenter was sacked nine times by the Oregon defense, bringing his season total to 37 sacks taken.
"I think a lot of people underestimate their defense because they have so many stars on offense, but their defense is pretty tough," Erickson said of Oregon's defensive performance.
Junior Keegan Herring led the ASU ground attack with 83 yards on 13 carries, and sophomore Dimitri Nance had 43 yards on 14 carries.
Junior Mike Jones had four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the Sun Devil receivers. Sophomore Chris McGaha had 79 yards on five receptions, while senior tight end Brent Miller had six catches for 45 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
Freshman kicker Thomas Weber made three field goals, but his miss from 32 yards at the end of the second quarter ended his school-record consecutive field goal streak at 17.
"It was disappointing missing, but you just have to bounce back and hit the next one like I did," Weber said. "You have to get it out of your head."
Oregon received the opening kickoff and wasted no time getting on the board. Dixon found wide receiver Jaison Williams for a 43-yard completion on the Ducks' first play, and the two connected again three plays later for a 26-yard touchdown.
ASU moved the ball inside the Oregon five on its first drive but had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Thomas Weber.
The Ducks offense picked up where it left off on the team's second possession. They went 73 yards on 11 plays for another touchdown, as Dixon capped off the drive by finding Stewart for a 13-yard touchdown.
After the Sun Devils punted on their ensuing drive, Oregon added to its lead when Dixon found Williams for another touchdown, this one a 27-yard scoring pass, that put the Ducks in front 21-3.
Facing another double-digit first-half deficit, ASU appeared to be ready to start another comeback when Carpenter found Jones for a 26-yard touchdown.
Weber made a 34-yard field goal on the Sun Devils' next possession to bring the team within eight points, and then later in the second quarter, a Dixon fumble was recovered near midfield by defensive end Luis Vasquez.
However, ASU was unable to capitalize on the turnover, as Weber missed a 32-yard field goal attempt just before the half to leave the Sun Devils trailing 21-13 at the break.
"I thought we had opportunities offensively in the first half, but we were settling for field goals instead of touchdowns," Erickson said. "I think that was the biggest difference."
Weber bounced back by making a 50-yard field goal on ASU's first possession of the third quarter to cut the Oregon lead to five, but that would be as close as the Sun Devils would get.
Stewart ran for a 33-yard touchdown later in the third, and Dixon found freshman wide receiver Drew Davis for a 19-yard touchdown on the final play of the quarter to extend the lead to 35-16.
ASU's comeback attempt was thwarted by two fourth-quarter turnovers, as Carpenter was intercepted in the end zone on one drive and senior tight end Tyrice Thompson fumbled after making a 45-yard reception.
Carpenter did connect with Miller for an 11-yard touchdown on the drive between the two turnovers, but it was not enough to prevent ASU's first loss of the season.
NOTES: This was the first game of the season that ASU did not intercept a pass, ending a streak of 10 consecutive games dating back to last season in which the defense recorded an interception...Carpenter's 379 passing yards is a season-high, and it is his second 300-yard passing game of the season...Jones had his second 100-yard receiving game of the season with his 121 yards...Oregon's 14 second-half points is the most ASU has allowed this season, and this is the first game this season that the Sun Devils were outscored in the second half.