UA running game quiets the Ducks

Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior tailback Trung Canidate (30) runs past Oregon linebacker Michael Fletcher Saturday at Arizona Stadium. Canidate had a 71-yard touchdown run and rushed for a season-best 180 yards during the Wildcats' 38-3 win.

"I just told them if they gave me 17 inches I'd do the rest," he said.

Canidate got his 17 inches, and gave Arizona 180 yards in the 38-3 blowout win over Oregon at Arizona Stadium.

Combine that with senior running back Kelvin Eafon's 67 yards and the Arizona ground attack rolled over the Ducks' defense.

With Canidate breaking for a 71-yard touchdown run and Eafon scoring three touchdowns on short runs near the goal line, Arizona was able to pull away from the then-No. 12 ranked Ducks.

"That's what we try to do," Eafon said. "We just try to burn them with the run."

Arizona's duo did just that, fulfilling the roles head coach Dick Tomey has put them in.

"The combination of him (Eafon) and Trung is so great," he said. "They root for each other and they really compliment each other."

Canidate is more of the speed back, gaining yardage on long plays, while Eafon is used in short yardage situations. That explains how Eafon has now racked up a team-high 14 touchdowns.

"Once you get inside the 10-yard line you know he has the will and drive to get in there," UA junior quarterback Keith Smith said. "It's almost automatic with him."

Eafon didn't know if he should be referred to as "automatic" just yet.

"I don't know about that," he said. "As long as I'm in the game I'm always giving 100 percent."

At the half, Arizona had only 34 yards on the ground, but Tomey was not about to give up on the running game.

"You have to be persistent in the running game," he said. "We were committed to the run, that was the difference (in the second half)."

Canidate exploded for the 71-yard burst on only the fifth play of Arizona's first drive of the second half.

"We missed some tackles that would have made a big difference," Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "But on (Canidate's run) we did not even miss tackles. We just did not touch him at all."

Smith said that reports of the demise of Canidate's speed were premature.

"They're saying he's lost a step, but they weren't even coming close to catching him all night," Smith said.

Canidate later had a burst for 61 yards in the fourth quarter, setting up another Eafon touchdown.

"We've got great backs here," Canidate said. "And the big guys up front are great, too, and together we got the job done."

With Canidate and Eafon tearing up the ground, Oregon had no answer as its running game was stuffed by Arizona's defense. That proved to be one of the keys of the game.

Roving linebacker Michael Fletcher of the Ducks said Arizona's ground attack was the key to the Wildcats' win.

"Once they established the run tonight, they went with it and kept rolling up points," Fletcher said. "At the line of scrimmage, they wore us down and just plain beat us."

Canidate said other aspects of his team deserve just as much credit as he and Eafon have gotten.

"We played a complete game tonight," he said. "Turnovers really cost them, our defense played a great game and I just told them to give me the ball and I'll make it happen."

Chris Jackson can be reached via e-mail at Chris.Jackson@wildcat.arizona.edu.