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Stewart, Oregon runs over Washington
By WILLIAM McCALL, Associated Press Writer
Nov 4, 2006 - 9:12:37 PM

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Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, left, cuts through a hole in the line past Washington defender Jordan Reffett during first half college football action in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)


EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Jonathan Stewart is healthier than he's been since the season opener, and he showed Washington just how good he felt Saturday.

Despite a sore ankle and ribs, Stewart ran for two touchdowns and 159 yards as No. 24 Oregon rolled up 316 yards on the ground in a 34-14 victory over Washington.

"I felt really good," Stewart said. "I know how tough I am and what my body's feeling like. I've been pressing through a lot of stuff, and it's finally starting to break through."

Stewart hurt his ribs when the Ducks (7-2, 4-2 Pac-10) beat Division I-AA Portland State last weekend. And he had sprained an ankle while piling up a career-high 168 yards against Stanford in the season opener for Oregon.

"This is the healthiest I've been since Stanford," Stewart said. "It was good just to go out and establish what I can do, and contribute to the team more."

Stewart's 4-yard TD run with 2:38 left in the third quarter made it 31-14.

Patrick Chung opened the scoring with a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown and had an interception for Oregon, which held Washington to just 13 yards on the ground.

"I was extremely pleased with the defense," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. But he was even more pleased with Stewart and the Oregon ground attack.

"The last two weeks we made some minor adjustments to our running game, and it's paying tremendous dividends," he said.

Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon added 109 yards in the air on 14 of 25 passes, but it was the fourth straight week he has been under 150 yards. And the Huskies (4-6, 2-5) capitalized on his two interceptions for their only scores.

Carl Bonnell threw a 9-yard TD pass to Sonny Shackelford over the top of two Ducks defenders in the corner of the Oregon end zone to tie the game at 7.

After Washington safety Chris Hemphill picked off Dixon in the opening of the second half, Bonnell threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Quintin Daniels to make it 17-14 -- as close as the Huskies would get.

It was the third straight year that Oregon has hosted the Huskies and the Ducks third straight win.

"I don't think this is the most disappointing or heartbreaking loss of the season, but it would have been great to come in and do something different here," said Washington coach Tyrone Willingham, a longtime friend of Bellotti.

Jeremiah Johnson also ran for a score for Oregon, finishing with 22 yards on eight carries. Paul Martinez kicked two field goals for the Ducks from 35 and 43 yards.

Bonnell completed 15 of 34 passes for 125 yards for the Huskies, with one interception. Shackelford finished with six receptions but was held to 31 yards.

"I feel that we didn't play football," Shackelford said. "We have two games left, and we can still go to a bowl game. To come here and not play well is kind of heartbreaking, but now this game is in the past, and we just need to look forward."

The Huskies have lost five straight after starting the season 4-1, with their hopes of postseason play dimming.

Washington would have to beat Stanford next week and then No. 25 Washington State in the Apple Cup in Pullman to have any chance at becoming bowl eligible.


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