Ducks Take to Air and Defeat Huskies

Ignoring the running game, Oregon got a record performance from receiver Tony Hartley and overcame a late fumble to hold on for a 27-22 victory over Washington on Saturday.

Hartley had nine catches for 242 yards and two touchdowns. His yardage broke the Oregon record of 234 by Derrick Deadwiler against California in 1993.

Donald Haynes had three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks, 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-10.

Oregon quarterback Akili Smith was 19 for 32 for 442 yards, including scoring passes of 30 and 23 yards to Hartley, and 27 yards to Haynes.

With two games remaining, Smith tied the school record for most touchdown passes in a season (22), joining Danny O’Neil (1993 and ‘94) and Bill Musgrave (1989).

“If the offensive line is ready to play and gives me the time they did today,” Smith said, “I’m capable of putting up numbers like I’m doing.”

Washington (5-4, 3-3) relied on its passing game too, but Brock Huard lost the battle of the quarterbacks, completing 19 of 37 for 289 yards with two interceptions.

“You have to give Oregon’s secondary credit,” Huard said. “They were scrappy and competitors, and they made plays. They outfought us.”

The Huskies were trailing, 27-15, with 2:03 remaining when Oregon tailback Herman Ho-Ching, returning after missing five games because of a strained knee, fumbled at the Duck 2.

Washington backup quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo scored on the next play, but the Ducks managed to hang on.

“It got a little too exciting for me at the end,” Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said after the Ducks’ fourth victory in five games against the Huskies.