PAC-10 Players Of The Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli of Oregon, defensive tackle Stephen Paea of Oregon State and kick returners C.J. Gable of USC and James Rodgers of Oregon State have been named U.S. Bank Pac-10 Players of the Week in football, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced.

Masoli, a sophomore from Daly City, Calif., led the Oregon offense in the Ducks' 55-45 win against Arizona. Masoli accounted for 387 yards total offense and five touchdowns as he completed 21 of 26 passes (80.8%) for 298 yards and two touchdowns covering 44 and 65 yards with no interceptions. Masoli also rushed 10 times for 89 yards (8.9) and three touchdowns of 66, 6 and 5 yards. Oregon put up 55 points and piled up 504 yards total offense (206 rushing, 298 passing). It marks the second Pac-10 offensive player of the week honor for Masoli this season.

Paea, a sophomore from Los Altos, Calif., keyed Oregon State's defensive effort in the Beavers' 34-21 win against California that kept OSU's Rose Bowl hopes alive. Paea posted six tackles, three solo, including two tackles for loss (-13) and one quarterback sack (-5). The Oregon State defense limited California to 11 first downs and 232 yards in total offense (85 rushing, 147 passing), including just one yard in the fourth quarter. The Beaver defense allowed Cal only 2-of-13 on third-down conversion attempts and posted five QB sacks (-45).

There had not been a kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pac-10 all season until James Rodgers of Oregon State and C.J. Gable of USC did so at key times in their games--OSU's win against Cal and USC's 45-23 victory at Stanford. After California scored on the opening drive of the game, Rodgers, a sophomore from Richmond, Texas, returned the subsequent kickoff 86 yards for a TD to quickly tie up the score and the Beavers never again trailed in the game. For USC, it was Gable, a sophomore from Sylmar, Calif., taking back a kickoff return 93 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 17-17 shortly before halftime and the Trojans never again were behind in the game.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were tailbacks Kahlil Bell of UCLA, Stafon Johnson of USC and Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, quarterback Rudy Carpenter of Arizona State and tight end Rob Gronkowski of Arizona. Also nominated on defense were rover Patrick Chung of Oregon and linebackers Reggie Carter of UCLA, Mike Nixon of Arizona State and Rey Maualuga of USC. Kicker Kai Forbath of UCLA was nominated for special teams play.