Jeremiah Masoli couldn't help but notice the similarities between the Oregon offense and some of the rides at Disneyland.

"Space Mountain ... that one is a lot like us I think," said Masoli, the Ducks' junior starting quarterback. "I got to check that one out, heard it's pretty fast."

Masoli and the Ducks are in Southern California this week for Friday's Rose Bowl game against Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State, and spent some time earlier this week enjoying the attractions at the "Happiest Place on Earth."

Oregon is playing on New Year's Day in Pasadena for the first time since 1995, when it lost to Penn State, 38-20, and fifth time overall.

"It's a great thrill for us to be here, but we didn't just come here happy to be in the game. We want to go back to Eugene with that champions' trophy," Masoli said.

Masoli, who is originally from the Bay Area but graduated from Saint Louis in 2006, led the Ducks to their first Pac-10 Conference title since 2001. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Masoli has passed for 2,066 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 659 yards and 12 scores and was named to the All-Pac-10 second team.

"Awards are nice, but you don't play the game for awards," Masoli said. "Right now all of our focus is on Ohio State."

Masoli is at the helm of Oregon's high-octane, hybrid spread attack, but the addition of freshman running back LaMichael James — the Pac-10's Offensive Freshman of the Year — has taken the Ducks to another level. James has carried 215 times for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is averaging 123 rushing yards per game while Oregon's 236.1 average is sixth in the nation.

As a team, Oregon is averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry with more than 56 percent of its first downs coming via rushing.

"We try to get into a rhythm offensively. To a lot of people it may look like we're trying to hurry, but that's the speed that we're comfortable at," Masoli said. "We want to control the tempo of the game and force defenses to keep up with us."

Oregon's passing attack averages just 188.6 yards per game, but its six interceptions thrown is tied for the 14th best mark in the country. Masoli's favorite targets are junior wide receiver Jeff Maehl (52 receptions, 686 yards, 6 TDs) and senior tight end Ed Dickson (42-551-6).

The Ducks are averaging 37.7 points per game, good for seventh nationally. They are especially proficient in the red zone, having scored on 50 of their 53 possessions (94 percent/sixth in nation).

But scoring may be at a premium come Friday. The Buckeyes are holding opponents to just 12.2 points and 262.5 yards per game — both rank fifth nationally. OSU is especially tough against the run, allowing an average of 83.4 yards. Opponents have only scored six rushing touchdowns against the Buckeyes all year.

OSU ranks 18th in pass defense (179.1 yards per game), but its 23 interceptions is second-best — only to Texas' 24 — in the country. Opponents have only passed for 10 touchdowns against the Buckeyes.

"They're big and physical," Masoli said of the OSU defense. "They really get after you and don't stop coming. We'll have our work cut out for us."

Oregon is 32nd in the nation in total defense, allowing 329.4 yards per game. Opponents have averaged 3.4 yards per carry and 126.7 per game along with 5.8 yards per pass and 202.8 per game.

The strength of the Buckeyes' offense is the run game, which features three 500-yard rushers. Sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor rushed for 707 yards and 7 TDs while junior Brandon Saine (694 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Daniel Herron (558 yards, 7 TDs) share the load at running back.

Sophomore wide receiver DeVier Posey is the team's leading receiver with 52 receptions for 727 yards and 7 TDs. Junior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has contributed 26 catches for 499 yards and 6 scores.

Pryor, who has passed for 1,821 yards with 16 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, revealed Monday that he has been playing with a torn posterior cruciate ligament, but would not say which knee is hurt. He is expected to start against Oregon.

"We're going to face the best team we've played all year in Ohio State, but if you're a football player, you couldn't ask for anything more," Masoli said. "I wasn't sure we'd even be here after how we started the season (loss to Boise State), but it's a testament to our coaches that we fought back to get to this point."

The game is a rematch of the 1958 Rose Bowl, which OSU won, 10-7.

MORE FOOTBALL

• Utah senior linebacker Kepa Gaison (Kamehameha '05 of Kāne'ohe) recorded three tackles, including one sack for a loss of six yards, in last Wednesday's 37-27 win over California in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. Cal senior defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) had five tackles with 1 1/2 going for losses and junior outside linebacker Nai Fotu (Kahuku '07 of Lā'ie) made one stop for the Utes.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

• Willamette (Ore.) sophomore forward Taylor Mounts ('Iolani '08 of Kailua) had 13 points, 5 rebounds in 97-90 loss at Portland State last night.

• Lewis & Clark (Ore.) senior guard Tyler Tsukazaki (Maryknoll '06 of Honolulu) scored 12 points Monday, but the Pioneers dropped a 79-78 decision to Calvin College in their first game of the Cactus Jam in Phoenix. He scored eight points in an 84-76 overtime loss to Wisconsin-Platteville last night.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

• UNLV sophomore forward Jamie Smith ('Iolani '08 of Kailua) had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 60-58 victory over Northern Arizona last night.

• Idaho sophomore guard Shaena-Lyn Kuehu (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) scored nine points with seven rebounds, three steals and one assist in Monday's 47-40 win over UC Santa Barbara.

• Concordia (Calif.) junior guard Nicole Fu (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) scored 11 points with four assists and one steal in Monday's 75-69 win over Xavier (La.).

• Willamette (Ore.) junior forward Keilyn Fujioka ('Iolani '07 of Kailua) scored 11 points with six rebounds in a 76-59 loss to Concordia (Ore.) Monday.

• Yavapai (Ariz.) sophomore forward Kira DeMorales (Waiākea '08 of Hilo) was named Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Division I Player of the Week on Dec. 13 after she helped the Lady Riders to a 66-54 win over South Mountain on Dec. 9 and an 86-73 win over Chandler/Gilbert on Dec. 12. DeMorales had 18 points against South Mountain and 21 points with 11 rebounds against Chandler/Gilbert.

HONORS

• Occidental (Calif.) freshman soccer player Reid Sakamoto ('Iolani '09 of Honolulu) was named NCAA Division III All-West Region after helping the Tigers go 4-12-1. Sakamoto, a 5-foot-5 defender/midfielder, was voted team MVP by his teammates and earned second-team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors.

• Western Nebraska sophomore volleyball player Kaleinani Kabalis (Moanalua '08 of Hilo) was honored as a first-team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association earlier this month. Kabalis, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, helped the Cougars to a 42-2 record and third-place finish at the national tournament.