By Scottie Bricker
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 5, 1997

McCullough uses arsenal, carries Ducks again

EUGENE, Ore. - It was déjà vu all over again.

In a repeat performance of last year's contest at Oregon, Duck tailback Saladin McCullough put his stamp on the outcome of the game right from the start.

McCullough took the opening kickoff and scampered 93 yards past the Arizona coverage, resulting in a score that proved to be the difference in the 16-9 Oregon win at Autzen Stadium. He finished the night with 200 all-purpose yards.

"He got his chance and made the most of it," Ducks' head coach Mike Bellotti said.

Indeed he did.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior who ran for 223 yards and five touchdowns in last year's 49-31 Oregon win was held to just 43 yards in 11 carries in the first half, but his 23-yard run through traffic to the Arizona 2-yard-line early in the second quarter led to Oregon's second touchdown.

Duck quarterback Akili Smith rolled out and hit tight end Blake Spence, who was wide open in the end zone, on the next play.

McCullough didn't stop there. And when he wasn't getting the job down with his feet, he was beating Arizona in the air.

On Oregon's fifth possession, he took the halfback option on second down and completed a 32-yard pass to wide receiver Pat Johnson that set up first and goal on the Arizona eight-yard-line. The drive stalled but a 19-yard field goal put the Ducks up 16-0.

McCullough finished the night with relatively average rushing numbers - 75 yards in 21 carries. Arizona running back Trung Canidate, who started his first game at the position, outrushed him by a yard, gaining 76 yards in 17 attempts for a 4.3 yard average.

"It was tough to run on this turf," Canidate said. "It's hard to know how to feel after a loss like that."

Arizona head coach dick Tomey said McCullough's presence could be felt throughout the entire game.

"He is a great player," Tomey said. "He has the ability to make great plays and he did that."

Arizona did a credible job in the third and fourth quarter of stuffing the running back, but with the Wildcat offense sputtering all game, his big plays proved once again to be the difference.

"We just couldn't get over the hump," Arizona quarterback Keith Smith said. "It's a tough loss to take."