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FB: Oregon Shuts Out Lobos 72-0 in Opener

BOX SCORE

Courtesy Associated Press

September 4, 2010
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon didn't need LaMichael James for this one.

Kenjon Barner replaced the suspended running back for the 11th-ranked Ducks and ran for a career-high 147 yards and four touchdowns before catching another score as Oregon opened the season with a 72-0 rout of New Mexico on Saturday.

Oregon's point total tied the Autzen Stadium record the Ducks set in 1999 against Nevada. The most points Oregon has ever scored is 115, against Puget Sound back in 1910.

The Ducks did set a team record for yards -- 720.

Oregon went to the Rose Bowl last season as the Pac-10 champions before several players ran afoul of the law, including quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who was dismissed from the team.

Quarterback Darron Thomas, making his debut as the Oregon starter, completed 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

Barner subbed for James because the running back was suspended for a game after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge that stemmed from a conflict with an ex-girlfriend.

New Mexico also were looking to put trouble in the past. The Lobos were 1-11 last season under coach Mike Locksley, who had an altercation with a former assistant and was named in a sexual harassment complaint.

This game didn't turn things around.

B.R. Holbrook made his debut as New Mexico's starter, and completed 11 of 24 passes for 70 yards with two interceptions. The overmatched Lobos managed just 25 yards on the ground and 82 total passing yards.

Cliff Harris scored on punt returns of 61 and 64 yards as Oregon built a 59-0 halftime lead. No Duck has ever had two punt returns for touchdowns in a single game.

But Barner was the star with 225 all-purpose yards. His one catch was a 60-yard scoring strike from Thomas in the second quarter.

Also a return specialist, Barner had 1,553 all-purpose yards last season. By all accounts, the sophomore was impressive in fall camp. Oregon coach Chip Kelly says he is "just scratching the surface of what he can be."

Last season James rushed for a team-high 1,546 yards, setting a new record for freshmen in the Pac-10. He averaged 6.7 yards and added 14 TDs to earn the league's freshman of the year.

James will return next weekend when the Ducks visit Tennessee. He watched from the sideline Saturday wearing an "O" T-shirt and khaki shorts.

Thomas played in five games as a true freshman in 2008, completing 16 of 33 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Called upon when Oregon was hit by a slew of injuries, Thomas came close to leading the Ducks to a come-from-behind victory against Boise State that season before redshirting in 2009.

Masoli had been expected to lead the Ducks this season, but he was accused in a fraternity house theft in January and wound up pleading guilty to a burglary charge. Kelly finally kicked him off the team when he was stopped by police for a traffic violation and marijuana was found in the car.

Masoli has since gone to play at Mississippi.

The Lobos were hit in the first half when defensive lineman Carmen Messina, who led the nation with 162 tackles last season, got hit hard in the first half and injured his left ankle. He did not return.

New Mexico said details about the injury were not known. Messina planned to return to New Mexico for an MRI on Sunday.

New Mexico is now 7-44 against ranked opponents. The last time the Lobos played a Pac-10 opponent, they beat Arizona 36-28 in 2008.

It was the Lobos' biggest margin of defeat since losing 94-17 to Fresno State in 1991.