Oregon too tough for South Florida

EL PASO -- If anyone forgot how good Oregon looked earlier this season, Jonathan Stewart and Justin Roper offered a reminder.

Stewart set a Sun Bowl record with a career-high 253 yards rushing, while Roper, a redshirt freshman, threw four touchdown passes in his first start to help Oregon beat South Florida, 56-21, on Monday.

“I knew I was ready to play,” Stewart said. “I knew I was ready to run today. I think I played well, but I’ll give all the credit to the offensive line for opening up the truck lanes.”

The Ducks (9-4) scored 28 consecutive points in the third quarter to end a four-game postseason losing streak, their first bowl win since beating Colorado, 38-16, in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2001 season.

Oregon made it look easy against the Bulls (9-4), who boasted one of the nation’s better defenses. Credit the legwork by Stewart and steady play by Roper, who had three weeks to prepare.

“I didn’t expect to have that many stats. I expected to do well, but not that well,” said Roper, who completed 17 of 30 attempts for 180 yards with no interceptions. He tied a Sun Bowl record with the four touchdown passes.

The Ducks also won for the first time since losing quarterback Dennis Dixon in November, ending a three-game losing streak.

How easy was it this time for the Ducks? They handily won a matchup of teams that had been ranked No. 2 in the nation earlier this season, despite setting a Sun Bowl record with 138 penalty yards.

Roper opened the season fifth on the depth chart and ran the scout team until a series of quarterback injuries -- none more devastating than that to Dixon, a Heisman Trophy hopeful -- reshaped the Oregon roster.

Coach Mike Bellotti gave Roper the start over Cody Kempt, another redshirt freshman.