Bears Steamrolled in Eugene, 45-24

AUTZEN STADIUM -Both 3-1/0-1 and coming off of disappointing losses, Cal and Oregon came into the game with something big to prove.

In the end, what they proved is that Oregon is ahead of Cal in their rebuilding project and the Bears may find their potential road to a possible bowl game become exceedingly more difficult after the Ducks' thorough whipping of Cal in front of a rowdy Autzen Stadium crowd, 45-24.

The game was competitive for a quarter or so in the 2nd half as the Bears briefly pulled within seven points ater being down by 17 early -largely due to key Oregon starters going down with injury in the 2nd quarter, including QB Justin Herbert and tailback Royce Freeman. But the way the game started and ended told the real story as the Ducks manhandled Cal on both sides of the ball. Seven sacks to none. 328 rushing yards to eight. 5.9 yards per play to 3.7. Two turnovers to one. Damning statistics that didn't lie.

With no running game, the pressure was on quarterback Ross Bowers to carry the team and with constant pressure, the soph signal caller was not able to get the job done, completing just 23 of 41 passes for 255 yards and three td's. Though Bowers avoided the interception bug that plagued him last week against USC, at least two wayward passes were dropped by the Oregon defense.

Meanwhile, Freeman averaged 8.5 yards per carry on his first six runs before injuring his shoulder. Backups Kani Benoit (18 carries for 138 yards, 7.7 ypc, two td's) and James Brooks (16 carries for 76 yards and one td) picked up right where Freeman left off -particularly with Benoit's back-breaking 68 yard td rush up the gut with a minute left in the 3rd after the Bears had clawed back to 24-17 late in the 3rd quarter.

Stay tuned for more from coaches and players, including postgame videos coming up tonight.