Oregon versus Washington.

It has been a rivalry that has been dramatic. Controversial. And mostly, memorable.

On Saturday in Seattle, the 106th version of the Border War is back, and so is a look back at the top 10 moments from the rivalry from an Oregon perspective.

No. 10 Nike co-founder makes his imprint





October 10, 1931. In a scoreless game in Seattle, Bill Bowerman returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, to lead a 13-0 Ducks victory. Legend has it that then-track coach Bill Hayward ran step-for-step with Bowerman down the sideline at Husky Stadium, telling him to keep his knees high. Decades later, of course, Bowerman would team with Phil Knight to start a shoe company named Nike.

No. 9 Ducks beat the Huskies, but Washington gets the last laugh



November 6, 1948. The origin of the rivalry is said to have started here. That year, in Seattle, Ducks’ quarterback Norm Van Brocklin throws two touchdown passes as Oregon beats the Huskies 13-7 on its way to 7-0 conference record. The Ducks finish tied with California for the Pacific Coast Conference lead, and a vote of the conference schools would determine who goes to the Rose Bowl. It was certain the conference’s four California schools would vote for the Bears, and many figured the six Northwest schools (Montana and Idaho were part of the conference) would vote for Oregon. However, Washington and Montana voted for Cal, sending the Bears to the 1949 Rose Bowl against Northwestern. Montana was said to have been lobbied by Washington to vote for Cal, although Montana could have also been upset at the Ducks dropping them from their schedule that year. The Ducks went on to play Southern Methodist in the Cotton Bowl, where they lost 21-13.

No. 8. A memorable loss against a legendary Husky team



October 20, 1984. If there was ever such a thing as a memorable loss, this would be it for Oregon. Washington was ranked No. 1 in the nation but quarterback Hugh Millen and the Huskies offense could do nothing against the Ducks in Seattle. Washington was held to three first downs and 109 total yards and held the ball for only 22:59 ... but still won 17-10, thanks to a 42-yard punt return for a touchdown and a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone. It didn’t help that Oregon’s star quarterback Chris Miller was knocked out of the game with a concussion thanks to a hit from linebacker Reggie Rogers and kicker Matt MacLeod missed field goals from 35 and 41 yards. The Ducks caught the Huskies off guard with a defensive ploy that added another down lineman.

“We were playing the Dallas Cowboys’ flex defense, and our defense played fantastic,’’ remembers Steve Greatwood, who was an assistant at the time. “Washington really didn’t do a thing all day on offense, but we still found a way to screw that up.’’

The Huskies finished 11-1 and No. 2 in the nation after beating Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

No. 7 The old Husky Stadium goes to bed with a whimper



November 5, 2011. In the final game at Husky Stadium before the $250 million renovations, the Ducks beat the Huskies 34-17 thanks to two interceptions of Keith Price by Eddie Pleasant and six sacks by the defense. The stadium was rocking like the glory days in the third quarter with the Ducks facing a 3rd and 9 and holding a 24-17 lead, but quarterback Darron Thomas quieted the crowd with a 34-yard completion over the middle to tight end David Paulson. De’Anthony Thomas would later score, and the old Husky Stadium had made its last roar.

No. 6 The day Tony Hartley went wild



Tony Hartley had nine catches for a school-record 242 yards to help the Ducks beat Washington 27-22 in 1998.

November 7, 1998. In Eugene, receiver Tony Hartley hauled in nine catches for a school-record 242 yards and two touchdowns in the No. 20 Ducks’ 27-22 victory. The funny thing is, Hartley actually dropped two passes in his record-setting day. Quarterback Akili Smith threw for 442 yards and the Ducks had to hold on in the closing minutes after Herman Ho-Ching fumbled at the Ducks’ two, leading to a Huskies touchdown with 1:47 left, but Brandon McLemore recovered an onside kick.

One of the Huskies’ safeties on that day was Nigel Burton, who is now the head coach at Portland State.

“What a day,’’ Burton said in disappointment after the game.



No. 5 The day the Ducks ran over Washington



In 2007 against the Huskies, the Ducks amassed a then-school record 465 rushing yards, including 251 from Jonathan Stewart. Oregon won 55-34.

October 27, 2007. In the first year with Chip Kelly as the offensive coordinator, the Ducks ran over the Huskies for 661 yards, which included a then-school record 465 yards rushing. Jonathan Stewart rushed for 251 yards, Andre Crenshaw 113 and quarterback Dennis Dixon 99 while running the spread option to perfection. A record day doesn’t happen without the big boys up front, and line coach Steve Greatwood said it was a memorable performance by a unit that included Max Unger at center, Mark Lewis at right guard, Jeff Schwartz at right tackle, Josh Tschirgi at left guard and Fenuki Tupo at left tackle.

“That was a pretty good line, and we got after them pretty good,’’ Greatwood said. “That was a fun game.’’

No. 4 Huge upset is Brooks' only Seattle conquest



September 27, 1980. The Huskies entered the game ranked No. 13 in the nation after beating its first two opponents -- both ranked -- by a combined score of 95-14. But the Ducks pasted the Huskies 34-10, thanks in part to a Steve Brown interception of a Tom Flick pass that he returned 40 yards for a touchdown and a big day from quarterback Reggie Ogburn. It would be the only time in nine tries that coach Rich Brooks would win in Husky stadium.

No. 3 A Gust from God: Ducks, missed FG, keep Huskies out of Rose Bowl



November 4, 1995. One of the greatest comebacks in Huskies history was thwarted by what many say was a strong gust of wind right before kicker John Wales attempted a potential game-winning field goal with 1:07 left in the game. The kick sailed wide right - the same direction the sudden wind was blowing - and the No. 19 Ducks beat the No. 15 Huskies 24-22 in Mike Bellotti’s first year as head coach.

Oregon had a 24-0 lead behind the passing combination of quarterback Tony Graziani and receiver Cristin McLemore and the conference’s top defense, which held Washington to 16 yards rushing.

The Huskies would go on to tie USC for the Pac-10 title, but as it turns out, the loss to Oregon kept the Huskies out of the Rose Bowl. Quarterback Damon Huard and his teammates could sense the importance of the loss that day.

“We should be in the Rose Bowl,’’ Huard said. “We should have wrapped this up.’’

No. 2 Patrick Johnson's diving catch stuns Huskies



November 8, 1997. Washington was ranked No. 6 in the nation and had stormed back from a 24-6 halftime deficit in Husky Stadium to take a 28-24 lead with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Ducks, who were a 21-point underdog, faced a 3rd-and-20 when quarterback Akili Smith placed a perfect pass over the right shoulder of Patrick Johnson. Earlier in the game, Johnson had dropped a key pass on third down, but he wouldn’t drop this one. In one of the more memorable catches in school history, Johnson dove and caught the ball in the end zone while fully extended and under blanket coverage from Mel Miller. It was a 29-yard touchdown with 2:33 left and it capped a 73-yard drive.

“Pat Johnson’s catch made up for a lot of things over the course of his career,’’ Bellotti said at the time. “He stepped up when we needed him to. Akili’s throw was perfect, and the catch was even better.’’

No. 1 The Pick



Kenny Wheaton's interception and return for a touchdown against Washington in 1994 changed Oregon football.

October 22, 1994. It quite simply is the play that changed Oregon football.

With 1:05 left in the game, and No. 9 Washington trailing 24-20, they were on the Ducks’ doorstep for a game-winning score. But redshirt freshman Kenny Wheaton stepped in front of a Damon Huard pass and returned it 97-yards for a touchdown, propelling the Ducks to a 31-20 victory and putting them on track for what would be their first Rose Bowl berth in 37 years.

“That is one of those iconic plays in Oregon lore,’’ head coach Mark Helfrich said. “A huge program changer at the time, one of the things that catapulted Oregon to be Oregon football, so-to-speak.’’

The links:

The Seattle Times writes that

was almost a Husky.

With or without De'Anthony Thomas,

Washington coach

The Ducks'