Can the Beavers Be Giant Killers Again on Saturday?

In 114 years of football the Beavers have had many storied wins, but none bigger than a 3-0 shutout of O.J. Simpson and #1 USC in 1967. Led by Steve Preece and fullback Bill "Earthquake" Enyart, the '67 Beavers finished 7-2-1, beating Leroy Keyes and #2 Purdue in West Lafayette, tying #2 UCLA, then shocking the undefeated Trojans in a quagmire at Parker Stadium. Their only losses that year were to BYU and the Huskies. They dumped 2-7 Oregon 14-10 in newly-minted Autzen stadium, finishing #7 in the country. It would be their best season for another 33 years.

In those days, number 7 in the country didn't get you a bowl. The Beavs stayed home after defeating the Ducks. Oregon was woeful that year. Their only win at home in the first season playing at Autzen was 31-6 over Idaho.

The new school Beavers have had success of their own against top-ranked teams. They upended number one USC in 2008, number two California in Berkeley in 2007, and number three USC in Corvallis in 2006.

Make no mistake, any team with Quizz Rodgers, a strong-armed Ryan Katz, and the strongest defensive tackle in college football in Stephen Paea (6-1, 311 pounds) has a puncher's chance in a home rivalry game. Paea can bench press 225 44 times, and he will probably bench press Jordan Holmes and LaMichael James more than once on Saturday. Mike Riley has coached an underdog to play over its head before, and the Beavers have vowed to work hard and let their play do the talking in the West's oldest football rivalry. Linebacker Dwight Roberson told the USA Today, "They took two Rose Bowls away from us, so I'm ready to take something away from them." Ironically, the best OS can do is knock the Ducks into the Rose Bowl, but it would still be a storied accomplishment and sweet revenge for the school Cliff Harris called the little brother in the state's backyard brawl. James Dockery, Quizz, and Ryan Katz looked chafed when asked about the comment in the midweek news conference.

Harris will have a target on his back at game time, and it will be interesting to see if he can back up the bold words with the whole Beaver squad gunning for him. No doubt Markus Wheaton and Katz will try to hook up on some double move routes to Harris' side, and the Quizz will lower his head in his direction. The Beaver kick coverage teams have been very solid this season, allowing 21.9 yards per kick return and 7.1 yards per punt, and no touchdowns. The legend of Oregon's Nacho, Nacho Man will either grow or be tempered.

It's part of the back story in a game with more on the line than any in the series' 114-year history. The Ducks have all the advantages on paper, but rivalry games have a way of writing a script of their own. Just ask Joey Harrington and Jake Cookus.