Civil War 2008

This upcoming weekend the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers will clash for much more than statewide bragging rights. This year, much more rides on the annual fall classic. The Beavers, having won six straight, have controlled their Pac-10 destiny since its September 25th monumental upset of the "Mighty USC Trojans". Oregon State and its fans are giddy about their first return trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl in 44 years. The Ducks, on the other hand are quietly having a very successful year themselves. They are a respectable 8-3(6-2 Pac-10), with losses to two top-10 teams(Boise State and USC), and a feisty California team in the swamp in Berkley. The Beavers have been solid all year, playing team ball. They are by no means flashy. Their counterparts, the Ducks, have been streaky and explosive with their spread offense. Jeremiah Masoli has taken the helm as the Ducks quarterback after weeks of speculation whether he or Justin Roper should be the starter. He is a true sophomore, playing JC football last year in San Francisco at a high level. He has faired pretty well in his first year on Oregon's football team, with visible improvement throughout the season. Masoli is joined by a very formidable tandem in the backfield with speedy Jeremiah Johnson and powerful LaGarette Blount. They provide the Ducks with speed and power in the spread offense. The Beavers also have a very solid backfield starting with its quarterback in Lyle Moevao. He does make some risky passes(see 9 interceptions in 10 games)but manages the offense well. Although, Jacquizz Rodgers is the backbone of the Beavers offense. He isn't nearly as explosive as Oregon's talented backfield(his longest rushing touchdown of the year is 7 yards), but he leads the Pac-10 in rushing yards and averages 4.8ypc. He sports a short, but bulky frame standing at 5-6 and 180lbs. Quiz, as most of Beaver Nation refers to his as, has been surprisingly durable entering the Arizona game, but his 288(259 carries, 29 receptions) touches this year appear to have caught to him. Entering the biggest game in recent memory for Oregon State, Quiz he appears "very doubtful" according to the OSU coach Mike Riley with a severe shoulder sprain. Most analysts are not giving the Ducks much of a chance in this years Civil War, but I am not so convinced. The Ducks are running their spread offense very effectively right now with Masoli making Ducks fans see a #10 on his jersey rather than a #2. The Ducks also are as healthy as they have been all season, coming off a bye week(the Ducks have scored 50+ points coming off last 3 of 4 bye weeks). They appear to be focused under a very determined Mike Belotti, who has a lot to prove. They still have hopes of playing in a major bowl themselves, the Holiday bowl. This weekends match up is only the second time in Civil War history that both schools are nationally ranked. I am very excited for the game, and will be there in section 15. Look for a close game decided by the leg of Matt Flint or Justin Kahut. Ducks by 3 late in the game!!!