EUGENE, Ore. -- Die-hard Duck fans said they knew it was coming, but not a lot of other people did.

The Oregon Ducks demolished the California Golden Bears on Saturday, winning 42-3. The Bears entered the teams' Pac-10 openers as the sixth ranked squad in the nation.

The Ducks, wearing their "throw-back" jerseys from the mid 1990's, got a huge boost on offense with the re-emergence of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli broke out of an early season slump to complete 21 of 25 passes for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Masoli's favorite target was tight end Ed Dickson. Dickson had a career day, finishing with 11 catches for 148 yards and receiving all three of Masoli's touchdown throws. The Ducks also had a solid day on the ground led by LaMichael James. James, coming off his breakout performance against Utah the week before, had another 100 yard rushing performance, ending up with 118 yards and one touchdown.

Oregon's defense also stepped up to the challenge, especially against Cal's Heisman candidate running back Jahvid Best. Best was held to only 55 yards on 16 carries, as the Ducks seemed to easily break through the Bears' offensive line throughout the day.

Today's game was also a homecoming for Cal quarterback Kevin Riley. Riley, who went to Beaverton High School near Portland, was rattled all day by the Oregon defense, completing just 12 of 31 passes for only 123 yards.

It could have been a better start for the Ducks, however. Oregon senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III fumbled the opening kickoff, and then was treated on the sideline for an apparent knee injury. Thurmond did not return to the game.

The Bears got a field goal out of kicker Vince D'Amato shortly after, but Cal did not score a single point after that.

The Ducks responded with a field goal of their own by kicker Morgan Flint to tie the score at 3-3. The first quarter ended at that same score, but Oregon's offensive attack began on the very first play of the second.

Masoli hit a streaking Dickson from 26 yards out to put the Ducks up 11-3, with Oregon converting on a two-point conversion as well. Seven minutes later, Oregon running back Remene Alston rumbled his way in from a yard out. And with less than a minute remaining in the first half, James ran it in from four yards away to put the Duck halftime lead at 25-3.

The third quarter was no different for the Ducks. After allowing a 50 yard pass from Riley to wideout Verran Tucker, the defense ended up stopping the Cal offense on a fourth down attempt. On the ensuing drive, Masoli finished it by throwing a touchdown pass to Dickson from nine yards away. The Duck lead was at 32-3.

Oregon once again stopped the Golden Bears on their own drive, and then went 96 yards in 12 plays, with James capping it off from four yards out. Oregon went up 39-3, and also got three more points in the fourth from a Flint field goal.