James runs for 3 TDs in Oregon's win
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Sunday, November 15, 2009; 2:45 AM
EUGENE, Ore. -- As LeGarrette Blount awaited his first chance to play since his suspension, LaMichael James ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns for the No. 14 Ducks in a 44-21 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.
Blount was dressed and ready to go, pacing the sideline at times with his helmet on. The senior running back returned this week from his suspension for punching a Boise State player following Oregon's season-opening loss to the Broncos.
He never got in the game.
James, who established himself in Blount's absence with an average of 115.9 yards rushing, had 119 yards and all his scores in the first half.
The Ducks (8-2, 6-1 Pacific-10) sit alone atop the conference standings as the only team with just one conference loss. Oregon fell 51-42 last weekend to Stanford.
Arizona State (4-6, 2-5) started true freshman quarterback Brock Osweiler, who left the game after being hit hard in the first half. Sophomore Samson Szakacsy replaced him and completed 13 of 22 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
The Sun Devils' run defense, the best in the Pac-10 going into the game, allowed the Ducks to gain 268 yards on the ground.
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 10 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Blount, who ran for 1,002 yards last season, was listed at the bottom of the Ducks' depth chart.
A day after he punched Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the opener, Blount was suspended for the season, although he was allowed to practice with the team and retain his scholarship.
Last month, coach Chip Kelly announced that Blount could return if he met certain academic and behavior requirements. The coach reinstated him on Monday.
Blount watched as his replacement ran for touchdowns of 4 and 2 yards in the first quarter against the Sun Devils. After Morgan Flint's 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, James added a 4-yard scoring run and Masoli found Ed Dickson with a 9-yard touchdown pass to give Oregon a 31-7 lead at halftime.
