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Stewart carries Oregon to rout of Fresno State

Sep 16, 2007 - 9:47 AM EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) -- It has been a memorable start to the 2007 campaign for Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.

Jonathan Stewart rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries Saturday as No. 19 Oregon cruised to a 52-21 triumph over Fresno State, giving Bellotti his 100th victory with the team.

Dennis Dixon completed 14-of-20 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns for the Ducks, who have won six straight over the Bulldogs (1-2) dating back to 1996. Entering this contest, Oregon (3-0) had never beaten Fresno State by more than seven points.

"It's always great to get off to a good start," Dixon said "Everyone comes together on offense and defense."

After defeating Michigan, 39-7, last week on the road, Bellotti improved to 100-48 with Oregon after it piled up 461 yards of total offense - including 307 on the ground - against Fresno State.

"I'm very pleased we won," Bellotti said. "Fresno State has been a very competitive team for us, and today we were the better team."

"It's awesome," Bellotti said about his 100th win. "I'm pleased for our program, and for our players and our coaches. I give them all the credit."

The Ducks got on the scoreboard early when Stewart capped their second drive with a nine-yard touchdown and cornerback Walter Thurmond scooped up Ryan Matthews' fumble on the ensuing drive and returned it 30 yards for another score to extend their advantage to 14-0.

"I like to be around the football and just try to make plays every down," Thurmond said.

Dixon, who spent the offseason playing minor league baseball, found running back Jermiah Johnson for a 36-yard touchdown connection. After Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater was intercepted, Oregon grabbed a 28-6 advantage on Dixon's two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ed Dickson.

Dixon, who also rushed for 59 yards and a score, has thrown seven touchdowns without being intercepted this season.

Stewart took a draw up the middle and broke it for an 88-yard touchdown score to give the Ducks a 35-6 lead with 10:58 left in the first half.

"Great blocking set it up," Stewart said. "When you're in that situation you just see a lot of green. It's like money."

Sophomore running back Austin Crenshaw scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter for Oregon, which took a 42-14 advantage into the break.

Brandstater passed 219 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, who managed just 60 rushing yards and converted just 3-of-15 on third down.

Fresno State, which was coming off a 47-45 triple overtime loss to Texas A&M last week, committed 12 penalties for losses of 124 yards.

"Today we were beat soundly in all three phases of the game," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "Oregon is a great football team and I can't say it enough that they beat us in all three phases of the game."