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PART FOUR - OREGON |
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FRIDAY
(31/10/03) continued |
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With the sun setting over the dunes, we head back up the coast reaching Yachats in darkness. This picturesque little town is another highlight of the trip. TOTAL MILES: 1200 |
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SATURDAY
(1/11/03) The clear light of morning provides excellent views up the top of Cape Perpetua, just south of Yachats. Looking North the Oregon coast extends another 150 miles, before crossing the Columbia River into Washington State. But it is here just North of Yachats we bid farewell to the Pacific Ocean as we take scenic highway 34 towards Corvallis and Oregon State University. |
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We're here to see the OSU Beavers, keeping a promise made to Ken Simonton. But as fate would have it, their opponents the Arizona Wildcats, would provide another Claymores connection! Outside the Uni bookstore we ran into Nancy Deal who happily showing off her Claymores mittens - she'd need them as it was a bitterly cold day! |
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Nancy is of course married to Mike, who is the offensive coordinator for the Wildcats. He was our OL line coach 2001-02, and helped Ian Allen on his way to a starting job at the NY Giants. It has however been an awful year in Tuscon for the 1-7 Wildcats. The head coach was fired mid-season, players have been kicked off the team, and in all likelihood none of the coaching staff will return in 2004. |
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The 6-3 Beavers on the other hand have had a decent year, though back to back losses to Washington and Washington State had set them back a little. But today they were debuting their orange pants, and thanks to this fashion masterpieces Arizona never stood a chance! |
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The Beavers are led on offense by junior RB Steven Jackson (#34), who last season broke Simonton's season rushing record (1,690) finishing 8th nationally. After having to punt on their 1st drive, the Beavers pounded away on their next one. Jackson's 10 yard TD catch from QB Derek Anderson opened the scoring. BEAVERS 7-0 |
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Arizona are forced to punt on their next drive and OSU start to move the ball at will. A 49 yard pass from Anderson to WR George Gillett gets them knocking on the door again and Jackson finishes off the drive with a 2 yard dive up the middle. BEAVERS 14-0 |
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Arizona are starting freshman Kris Heavner at QB, and the Beaver D made sure it was a long day for him ... Here Bill Swancutt provides the pressure on him on 3rd and 9 and Arizona are forced to punt again. Except that it gets blocked giving the Beavers the ball at the 2-yard line! |
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In the middle of the pile is Steven Jackson somewhere, who has just scored his 3rd TD of the game with a 2 yard run on the next play. BEAVERS 21-0 |
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More Beaver TD's were to come! Arizona put in Nic Costa at QB but he was sacked by Swancutt forcing another punt. 4 plays later Anderson lofted a 24 yard TD pass to WR James Newson. BEAVERS 28-0 |
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And just before the half there was more reason for the home faithful to jump for joy. Anderson quickly moved them down the field and hit Mike Hass from 4 yards out to complete the 1st half whitewash. BEAVERS 35-0 (HT) |
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Benny the Beaver (who bears absolutely no resemblance to First Down's Ben Saunders we can firmly say) was enjoying the first half domination where the Beavers had outgained the Wildcats 331 yards to 86.
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And the winner of the least intimidating mascot(s) in college football goes to ... ARIZONA! Apparently they answer to the names Wilbur and Wilma ... What was the University of Arizona thinking???? |
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Could the 2nd half get any worse for Arizona? It certainly started that way. First kicker Kirk Yliniemi nailed a 54 yard FG. Then Anderson threw his 4th TD of the day - this time to TE Tim Euhus who made a leaping grab at the back of the end zone. BEAVERS 45-0 |
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But the Wildcats finally broke through on their next drive when RB Mike Bell ran around left end for a 10 yard TD. BEAVERS 45-7 |
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Back came OSU and Jackson though. He leap over the top from 1 yard out for his 4th TD of the day. BEAVERS 52-7 |
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You would think the home fans would enjoy a 45 point cushion in the 2nd half. But as the temperature dropped, the crowd got heated at the officiating crew who clearly didn't have a plane to catch. The teams combined for 28 flags for 245 yards as penalty after penalty was called. Eventually the BOO birds reigned down on them! |
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No play summed up Arizona's plight more than this 4th and Goal from the OSU 1 yard line in the 4th Q. Down 52-9 (after a 3rd Q safety), the Wildcats decide to go for it ...
Back up QB Nic Costa executes a fake hand-off to his fullback and rolls out to this right looking for an open receiver to throw to ...
Alas nobody is open so he decides to run back across to his left ...
And on his way back across the field drops the ball!
THE PIG IS LOOSE!
STILL LOOSE!
STILL LOOSE!
STILL LOOSE!
STILL LOOSE!
Try to dive on it ... Ooooooops!
DOH!
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Amazingly (and with just about nobody watching) Heavner returned at QB and throw 2 late TD passes to make the fial score almost respectable at 52-23. We gave game MVP to Beavers QB Derek Anderson (#14) who in an up and down season hit 21 of 32 for 308 yards and 4TD's. |
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Corvallis was very welcoming if a little cold. The Simonton shirt finally found somewhere to blend in, and plenty of fans got the connection when they saw Preston's kilt. Kenny is still a legend in these parts. FINAL |
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Last but not least was Mike Deal who we tracked down after the game. He was in decent spirits despite his team taking a beating. He'd heard the Bicknell news too and was surprised. He says he misses NFLE, and why not with the nightmare season Arizona have had. Good luck to Mike wherever he ends up coaching next year and thanks for the cap! |
