ught TD was an answer to Jackson State surging briefly into a 24-21 lead in the Southwestern Athletic Confer

EUGENE, Ore. -- In a season of surprises for the Ducks, perhaps nothing has been more unexpected than the emergence of quarterback Justin Herbert.The freshman, a local kid out of Eugenes Sheldon High School, is already setting school records and drawing comparisons -- however premature -- to former Duck Marcus Mariota. Even his quiet steadiness is similar to the Heisman winners.Hes calm and hes composed, Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown said. You know those people whove got it. Ive been around the game a long time and you just know hes got it. Hes got the `it.The Ducks, who just two seasons ago were playing in the national championship game, have fallen dramatically this season and are in danger of missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2004. Currently 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 play, underdog Oregon visits USC on Saturday.Oregon was sunk by a five-game losing streak after opening the season with a pair of nonconference victories. It was the longest losing streak since a five-game slump in 1996.Because he didnt play in Oregons spring game and many fans hadnt seen him play, it was something of a surprise to those outside the program when Herbert was named graduate transfer Dakota Prukops backup following fall camp.Since then, hes supplanted Prukop as the starter in the past three games. His first opponent was daunting, then-No. 5 Washington, and it wasnt pretty: The Ducks lost 70-21.The next team up was California. Oregon lost 52-49 in double overtime, but Herbert threw for 258 yards and six touchdowns. He tripped up on the last play, throwing an interception and afterward vowed to learn from the experience.His six touchdowns tied the teams single game total -- a feat also achieved by Mariota.Herbert broke into the win column last weekend against Arizona State. Sure, the Sun Devils were decimated by injuries, but Herbert threw for 489 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-35 Oregon victory. His passing yardage tied the Oregon mark set by Bill Musgrave against BYU in 1989.Oregon quarterbacks coach David Yost said one of Herberts strengths is that he doesnt get rattled.What hes been able to do, in that Washington game he knew he didnt play perfect in that game but he didnt lose confidence in himself. He played in the Cal game, he didnt make the play at the end of the game, but he didnt lose confidence in himself. This game is just going to help build his confidence in himself, Yost said. Playing him when we did, I think it worked out right and I think in the long run it will be the best thing for him because he had a little time to ease into it and get a feel.Following the victory over the Sun Devils, the young 6-foot-6 QB was teased for his almost eerie calm. Perhaps it was freshman nerves, but he only briefly cracked a smile when asked if he was excited about the win.Winning that game meant a lot to me and the rest of the team, he said.About the most emotion he showed was when he was told about matching Musgraves yardage mark.I dont know as much about Bill Musgrave as I need to know, he quipped, laughing.It was reminiscent of those early postgame press conferences with Mariota, who was shy and clearly uncomfortable with the limelight. Mariota got more polished as his college career progressed, but remained unassuming.For comparisons sake, Mariota redshirted his freshman year. His first season, he started in the opener and led the team to a 12-1 record. That season he also turned heads against Arizona State, throwing for a touchdown, catching a TD pass and running for another score.Mariota, now with the NFLs Tennessee Titans, has explosive speed and an uncanny ability to improvise on the fly. Herbert, meanwhile, impressed Oregons coaches with his quick grasp of the playbook. Brown said Herbert is especially good at keeping plays alive.Coach Mark Helfrich, who discovered Mariota on a recruiting trip to Hawaii and urged then-coach Chip Kelly to offer him a scholarship on the spot, praises his new young quarterback for his poise and raw talent, while trying to keep perspective.Its not a one-man show, but that quarterback position is awfully important, Helfrich said. We cant anoint anybody at this point, but we like where hes going, we like where his head is, we like his demeanor.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org Air Jordan Retro 5 For Sale Cheap . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Cheap Jordan 5 For Sale . 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LOS ANGELES -- With his explosiveness, ability to take over a game in a variety of ways, and No. 5 jersey, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey invites natural comparisons to former Southern California sensation Reggie Bush.Trojans linebacker Uchenna Nwosu wont go that far, but definitely recognizes the threat the Heisman Trophy contender presents when facing the No. 7 Cardinal on Saturday in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.I wouldnt say Reggie, Nwosu said. Reggie is like the G.O.A.T. I dont know who he reminds me of, but he is a great athlete. He is going to be a challenge for us.Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was brought back to USC to contain McCaffrey after he rushed for 207 yards and caught four passes for 105 yards in Stanfords Pac-12 title game win last December. McCaffrey rushed for one touchdown, caught one touchdown reception and threw one touchdown pass to quarterback Kevin Hogan, setting a USC opponent single-game record with 461 all-purpose yards.In 2013, Pendergasts USC defense held a Stanford team that went on to win the Pac-12 to 17 points in an upset win under interim coach Ed Orgeron despite being in the throes of NCAA-imposed scholarship reductions. That result and the overall work Pendergast did in helping USC win 10 games that season is a main reason why coach Clay Helton brought him back, and Pendergasts tactical acumen will be tested by the versatility of McCaffrey.Usually you see a runner or you see a receiver. When you have got the combination of both, you got to make a decision on what you are going to do, Helton said. You got to mix-and-match. Itll be a great chess match between Coach (David) Shaw and Clancy of mixing it back and forth. Thank goodness he is here.Perhaps the biggest difference Pendergast might make in containing McCaffrey will come from his mere presence on the sideline. Safety Chris Hawkins saaid the positioning of former defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox upstairs in the press box limited the options available to match Stanfords system of audibles.dddddddddddd After outside linebacker Sua Cravens had 13 tackles in the first meeting against Stanford at the Coliseum, Hawkins said Hogan was changing the play at the line of scrimmage to have McCaffrey run away from where Cravens was lined up.USC plans to show different looks intended to confuse Stanford quarterback Ryan Burns, who will be making his second career start. The hypothesis as Hawkins presented it is that if Burns cant check into the right play, it gives the defense a better chance at containing McCaffrey.The way we are playing them this year, its not like we are going to be stationary, Hawkins said. Were going to be moving around. Its going to be hard for him to check, especially with a quarterback where its only his second start. I dont know how loose the reigns are on him, but I doubt they are like Kevin Hogans who has been starting for four years.Clancy is great at disguising coverages and being able to show you one thing and at the last second it becomes another, Helton said.The reserved Pendergast wouldnt make any pronouncements about the defenses readiness to contain McCaffrey.As a defense in general were a work in progress, and I think everybody knows they can get better every single day, Pendergast said.Game notes Defensive lineman Noah Jefferson (shoulder) is doubtful to play against Stanford, Helton said. ... Safety Marvell Tell (concussion) has been cleared to play. . Defensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers has moved back to offense after starting center Toa Lobendahn tore his ACL against Alabama. Rodgers started six games at center last season. 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