Miller’s Passing Clinches 49-28 Victory for Oregon

Chris Miller, playing his final game for Oregon, passed for three first-half touchdowns Saturday as the Ducks rolled to a 49-28 Pacific 10 Conference victory over Oregon State.

Tailback Latin Berry rushed for three touchdowns in the second half against the Beavers, who haven’t beaten the Ducks in 12 years.

Miller completed 21 of 27 passes for 257 yards and was not intercepted.

Oregon, which finished the season at 3-5 in the conference and 5-6 overall, took control of the game with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half.

Miller teamed with Derek Loville on a 10-yard pass with 1:57 remaining in the half to give the Ducks a 21-14 lead. Moments later, Oregon’s Anthony Newman intercepted an Erik Wilhelm pass at the Beavers’ 29-yard line, setting up Miller’s 2-yard toss to Tim Parker with one second left in the half.

Berry’s runs of 14 and 21 yards early in the third quarter boosted Oregon to a 42-14 lead.

Oregon State, 1-6 in the Pac-10 and 3-8 this season, cut the lead to 14 points, but Berry’s seven-yard run with 6:21 to play ended the Beavers’ comeback hopes. Oregon State’s Dave Montagne caught 8 passes to tie the Pac-10 season record of 78 receptions. Wilhelm, the Pac-10’s leading passer, completed 23 of 43 passes for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he threw 4 interceptions.

Oregon’s 49 points and the 77 points scored by both teams were records for the 92-year-old series.