THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 DAILYEMERALD.COM #UOVSSTAN ⚑ GAMEDAY FLIPPING THE THISSCRIPT YEAR, THE DUCKS ARE THE UNDERDOG. For the last few years, Stanford has been the hurdle on the way to Oregon’s playoff success. This time the tables are turned. STACK UPS AND MATCHUPS FOR THE GAME HOW MASS MEDIA AFFECTS THE DUCKS DEFOREST BUCKNER’S PROVING GROUND NOW ADDITIONAL 6AM-2PM PARKING BEHIND MON-FRI CAFE YUMM. 6AM-3PM NOTE: There is no longer GLUTEN parking across Broadway. FREE SAT & SUN PLUMBING PANCAKES! ELECTRICAL HARDWARE OPEN TOOLS SINCE PAINT 1965 HOUSEWARES LAWN & GARDEN 2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 342-5191 Twilight Tastings Fridays 6-9 pm 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. Complimentary Flight Eugene, Oregon Live Music 541-349-9463 541-343-7523 • 782 East Broadway, Eugene Corner of Alder & Franklin Blvd. sweetcheekswinery.com Walking distance from campus! Wisdom Teeth Dental Emergencies Dental Implants Oral Surgery Conveniently located near UO. Student discounts available and most insurances accepted. 2233 Willamette Street Building G Eugene, OR 97405 Phone 541.484.2136 Fax 541.484.0960 eugeneoralsurgery.com John E. Villano, DDS, PC PAGE 2 EMERALD GAMEDAY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 ⚑ GAMEDAY HOW OREGON AND STANFORD STACK UP ➡ JUSTIN WISE, @JUSTINFWISE The vibe inside Autzen Stadium last Saturday was much different than some of the Ducks’ previous home contests this year. After 777 yards of offense and a formidable performance from its defense, Oregon walked away with its first Pac-12 home win of the season. The win marked the Ducks’ third in a row and also made the program bowl eligible for the 11th consecutive year – a contrast to the place many thought the team would be headed after it opened the season at 3-3. It is why defensive backs coach John Neal said he’d be lying if he didn’t view the win on Saturday as a milestone. “We got destroyed against Utah,” Neal said after the game . “To be where we are, I’m grateful, I’m relieved.” But Oregon’s next test may truly indicate just where Oregon exactly is. No. 7 Stanford, its quarterback Kevin Hogan and Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey pose a threat unlike the Ducks’ defense has faced in a while. But it is a brand of football Oregon is more than familiar with, as the matchup between speed and physicality has always played a key role in each team’s season. With Oregon’s offense appearing to look the way it is advertised, the matchup expects to be a much tougher test for Stanford’s defense than it would’ve been a month ago. STANFORD OFFENSE OREGON OFFENSE VS. VS. OREGON DEFENSE STANFORD DEFENSE In 2013, an undefeated Oregon team went to Stanford and was physically Oregon’s midseason turnaround is not a mystery. With dominated. Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney rushed 45 times, and Vernon Adams Jr. back and healthy, the Ducks offense has taken the Cardinal methodically drove down the field and ate up a majority of off. In its last three games, Oregon is averaging 43.7 points and the clock while building a 26-0 lead at one point. This Stanford team is 573.3 yards of offense per game. The numbers have continued similar, and leads the nation in average time of possession, holding the to steadily increase each week as Adams becomes more ball for 35 minutes, 16 seconds per game. It is different in that it is far more comfortable. In addition, Adams’ presence through the air has explosive though. clearly affected the ground game. On Saturday, four running Hogan has shown the traits of a much improved passer and opposing backs combined for 477 yards, with Royce Freeman leading the defenses have yet to find an answer for McCaffrey, who’s average of 246.1 group with 180. all-purpose yards per game leads the nation. In addition, the matchup Stanford’s defense is a different beast than Cal’s, though. The between Stanford’s physically imposing tight ends and Oregon’s secondary unit is giving up 20.2 points per game and leads the Pac-12 in creates another monstrous challenge. Hogan’s favorite receiver not named total defense, allowing 338.7 yards per game. McCaffrey, 6-foot-4, 248-pound tight end Austin Hooper, has 22 catches for 356 yards and five touchdowns. Oregon enters Palo Alto, California looking to upset Stanford’s shot at a national title. (Adam Eberhardt) The Emerald is NEWSROOM BUSINESS ON THE COVER published by Emerald EDITOR IN CHIEF DESIGNERS A&C EDITORS PUBLISHER, PRESIDENT & CEO The cover image was photographed Media Group, Inc., the DAHLIA BAZZAZ X325 RAQUEL ORTEGA EMERSON MALONE CHARLIE WEAVER X317 by Taylor Wilder. independent nonprofit JARRED GRAHAM CRAIG WRIGHT PRINT MANAGING EDITOR VP OPERATIONS media company at the GINA MILLS DANIEL BROMFIELD COOPER GREEN KATHY CARBONE X302 University of Oregon. OPINION EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR Formerly the Oregon DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR TANNER OWENS VP OF SALES AND MARKETING JACK HEFFERNAN COLE ELSASSER ROB REILLY X303 Daily Emerald, the news organization SPORTS EDITORS GET IN TOUCH MULTIMEDIA EDITOR HIRING AND TRAINING DIRECTOR JUSTIN WISE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES EMERALD MEDIA GROUP was founded in 1900. STACY YURISHCHEVA KAYLEE TORNAY HAYDEN KIM NICOLE ADKISSON 1222 E. 13TH AVE., #300 EUGENE, OR 97403 MANAGING PRODUCER KENNY JACOBY PODCAST EDITOR NICK CATANIA 541.346.5511 SCOTT GREENSTONE ALEXANDRA WALLACHY BEN GILBERTS NEWS EDITORS TYLER HORST COPY CHIEF VOL. 117, ISSUE NO. 32 AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR JENNIFER FLECK ESTUARDO PEREZ MELISSA RHOADS KIRA HOFFELMEYER FRANCESA FONTANA TAYLOR BRADBURY LAUREN GARETTO TEDDY LACK SALLY CASEBEER CAITLIN MONAHAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 EMERALD GAMEDAY PAGE 3 ⚑ GAMEDAY Bralon Addison leads the Ducks in receiving yards this season and will likely make a large impact against Stanford.. (Adam Eberhardt) OREGON VS. STANFORD ➡ CHRISTOPHER KEIZUR, @CHRISKEIZUR The top two teams in the Pac-12 North are set for a showdown this Saturday, as Oregon travels south to Palo Alto, California, to face No. 7 Stanford. The Ducks (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) come into the game on the heels of a 44-28 victory over California, a game in which they seemed to finally get things back on track. Oregon overcame a slow start and an early turnover to put up 777 total yards of offense — the most in program history. The Cardinal (8-1, 7-0 Pac-12) have been just as impressive since its week one glitch against Northwestern. Since that early loss, Stanford has gone undefeated, most recently beating Colorado 42-10. MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Stanford offensive line Oregon quarterbacks vs. vs. Oregon defensive line Stanford secondary Against Washington State, the second best The Cardinal are built to run the ball passing offense in the country, the Stanford and it has the offensive line to do it. On secondary turned in a solid game. It held the season, their line has helped them Cougars quarterback Luke Falk to 354 rank 15th in the nation in rushing yards yards and picked him off twice in the win. per game with 227.7. On the other side The Cardinal will be looking for a similar of the trenches is Oregon’s defensive performance against Oregon’s Vernon Adams line, a group that has shown the ability Jr., who has really come on since returning to put pressure on the quarterback. The from his injury. Adams finished the Cal game question is whether they can hold up with 300 yards and four touchdowns. Look throughout the contest, a task that will for Oregon to try to get him going early with require them to fill the space and free up short throws before allowing him to take a the linebackers from blocks. shot deep. OREGON: STANFORD: Bralon Addison DeForest Buckner Christian McCaffrey Austin Hooper Addison is a key part of One of the stars for McCaffrey is a workhorse for They sure do know how the Ducks’ offense. This Oregon this season has been Stanford, doing pretty much to grow tight ends on The season, he has 42 receptions defensive end DeForest everything the team asks of him. Farm. Hooper is just the for 532 yards and six Buckner, who has been The sophomore Heisman hopeful latest talent to pass through touchdowns. Look for the unstoppable at times for puts up numbers running the ball, the Cardinal program at that coaches to get Addison offensive lines. Playing with in the passing game and as a return position. He leads the team involved with some trick a cast on a wrist he injured man. He has an explosive first step with 356 receiving yards and plays against Stanford to during the ASU game, and a seemingly endless amount five touchdowns. try to catch the defense Buckner recorded a team- of energy. This season, he has off guard. high seven tackles and one already run for 1,207 yards and six PLAYERS sack last weekend. The sack touchdowns. He’s showing no signs TO WATCH: forced the Golden Bears to of slowing down. For the Ducks, settle for a field goal. On the it’s less a question of stopping season, the senior has 51 McCaffrey than it is just trying to tackles and seven sacks. contain him. PAGE 4 EMERALD GAMEDAY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 ⚑ GAMEDAY Oregon’s unusual season has resulted in a mixed, but loud, social media response. (Cole Elsasser) SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE TEAM’S REPUTATION ➡ JOSEPH HOYT, @JOEJHOYT They were well aware of the malicious chatter that In recent weeks, fans have been more positive with can come from the angered pounding of computer players on social media. For some players, the back- keys.