Freshman RB leads Oregon to berth in Rose Bowl

EUGENE, Ore. -- Redshirt freshman LaMichael James ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night to send No. 7 Oregon to the Rose Bowl with a 37-33 victory over No. 13 Oregon State in the Civil War.

Oregon (10-2, 8-1) also claimed the Pac-10 championship with the victory, ending USC's seven-season hold on the title. The Ducks, who have not been to the Rose Bowl since 1995, will face Ohio State in Pasadena on New Year's Day.

LeGarrette Blount, who hadn't played since throwing a punch after Oregon's season-opening loss to Boise State, returned to the field and scored on a 12-yard run in the third quarter.

Oregon State (8-4, 6-3) was vying for its first Rose Bowl berth since the 1964 season. The Beavers will have to wait until the rest of the Pac-10 wraps up the season to find out which bowl they will play in.

It was the first time the annual rivalry game was a winner-takes-all path to Pasadena.

After the game the Duck mascot clutched a bouquet of roses as he was lifted above the fans who rushed the field at Autzen Stadium.

Jeremiah Masoli threw for 201 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks, who capped a stunning turnaround from their 19-8 crash in the season opener against the Broncos.

Sean Canfield threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns for the Beavers. Jacquizz Rodgers, the Pac-10's second-leading rusher behind Toby Gerhart with an average of 119.4 yards a game, rushed for just 64 yards and a score.

Oregon State had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth but Canfield threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-15 from the Oregon 28.

Masoli took over with more than 6 minutes left and ran out the clock.