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Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

Over the course of a 12-game regular season, numerous moments defined the direction Oregon's fate would take.

Some threw the Ducks off course. But in a 9-3 season, there was more good than bad, helping the UO football team to a No. 15 national ranking entering a Holiday Bowl matchup against No. 13 Oklahoma State on Dec. 30 in San Diego.

Here are five plays without which the Ducks probably wouldn't have reached such heights. Included is commentary from the players involved, culled from video reviews of the plays with them this past week, and insights from former Pac-10 assistant coach Ken Woody, The Register-Guard's college football analyst.

Byrd blows 'em away

Sept. 13 at Purdue

The situation: Oregon (2-0) trails Purdue 20-6 in the third quarter and shows no signs of life on offense. With 5:10 left in the quarter, the Boilermakers set up to punt on fourth-and-one from their 42-yard line.

The play: Given the down and distance and Purdue's field position, the Ducks anticipate a fake and call for a "safe" return. That leaves the starting defense on the field, to watch for the fake and then set up a basic return - in this case, to the right side of the field.

Four down linemen rush the punter while four linebackers hesitate at the snap; the Ducks also have wings split out wide to each side to block Purdue's gunners. Chris Summers kicks it away, and the UO linebackers release down the field to block for returner Jairus Byrd, while the linemen peel out to set up a wall for Byrd farther up the right side.

Summers doesn't get great hang time on the punt, so Byrd senses the opportunity for a decent return. He has been cramping up throughout the game, and a "safe" return doesn't typically yield big gains. But a chance has presented itself.

"It came to me kind of quick," Byrd said. "As I caught it I saw a little crease. Once I got past that, I saw everything open up."

Byrd steps up between the gunners, getting a block to his right from Talmadge Jackson III. Oregon linebacker Spencer Paysinger is running toward Byrd to pick up a Purdue defender; there is a Boilermaker in the middle of the field and one to Paysinger's left (Byrd's right), and Paysinger has a decision to make.

"Usually we're supposed to block the closest inside man," Paysinger said. "But I saw (Byrd) already had him beat, so I jumped outside to the other guy."

Paysinger blocks the defender to his left, giving Byrd even more room to his right after...

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