Oregon Takes Hit, Blount Delivers One

Sports Betting News - September 4th, 2009 - Written by John

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount told reporters leading up to Thursday night that his team owed Boise State a whooping after losing to the Broncos, 37-32, last year.

One way or another, he was going to deliver.

Frustrated and angry after being held to negative five yards on eight carries, Blount retaliated after his team's 19-8 loss, sucker-punching Boise State's Byron Hout in the jaw after being bumped, fighting back with his teammates and nearly jumping into the stands to challenge several Bronco fans. It was an ugly mess that marred Boise State's gigantic win, catapulting the WAC power squarely into the BCS picture.

"I just apologize to anyone watching that,” Blount told reporters at his locker after the game. “I just apologize to all of our fans and all of Boise’s fans. That’s something I shouldn’t have done. I lost my head.”

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said he will look into the matter, adding that he didn't get to see the incident first-hand. Although it will be a shocker if Blount is not suspended by the team, Boise Police Lt. Bryan Hagler informed reporters that he does not intend to get involved to pursue the matter as criminal.

Boise State extended it's home win streak to 20 and is 65-2 at home since 1999.

“They came out talking a little bit thinking they owed us something, and we just came out and played our game,” Bronco running back D. J. Harper told Rivals.com after the game.

It was deemed the most important game ever played at Bronco Stadium in the week leading up. As a non-BCS conference school, Boise State knew that it would essentially have to run the table to be considered for one of the major bowls. Even that might not have been enough. Without a marquee win, number crunchers could complain about cupcake opponents. In recent years, Boise State, along with conference foe, Hawaii, has run the table only to be criticized for a lacking schedule and few respectable wins to hang their hat on.

Thursday was a good start to change some minds.

In front of a sellout crowd, the Broncos out-gained the 16th-ranked Ducks 361 to 152 and had 22 first downs, compared to the six of their opponents. No Oregon team had been held to so few yards in the last 15 years. 

It was a stunning result, considering how it seemed to be a shootout on paper. The Ducks had scored 162 points in their final three games last season and out-gunned offensive juggernaut Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. They brought back quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and superstar running back Blount, which was key to the nation's second-ranked running attack. But Oregon didn't even get a first down until seven minutes remained in the third quarter and only managed one scoring drive.

Meanwhile, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was reliable, going 19-for-29 for
197 yards. He had the game's first touchdown strike when he hit Austin Pettis from the 10 to put his team up 8-0 after a converted two-point try.

The Broncos later went up 13-0 after a safety and a field goal and Harper broke the game open with a one-yard push to make it a 19-point advantage. Harper and Jeremy Avery combined to rush for 162 yards on the night.

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