Portland, OR (AP) - The Oregon Ice passed another difficult test Sunday, defeating division rival Boise by a score of 20-10, and extending the team's win streak to three games. The victory was the third straight for the Ice (5-2), and kept them tied with the Seattle Thunderbirds (5-2) for first place in the Ring of Ice Division.
<IMG SRC="
http://fof2forever.com/CFL/News/brunner1.jpg" hspace=5 border=1 ALIGN=RIGHT>"We're on a roll," said Oregon wide receiver <b>Matt Brunner</b>, who was named game MVP after making 11 catches for 128 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. Brunner's 698 total receiving yards leads the league. "We just need to stay focused and take it one game at a time."
Early on, it seemed as if Boise (nine point underdogs) would pull the upset in Portland. The Stampede built a 10-0 lead late in the second quarter, and could have had more if not for an interception on a fake field goal attempt at the Oregon 25.
The Ice, however, never backed down. Quarterback <b>Maurice Brown</b> led the Ice on a 71-yard, 5:39 scoring drive that ended with RB <b>Lamont Funderburk</b>'s 16-yard touchdown run around left tackle on 3rd-and-16 with :48 left in the half to pull Oregon within three points at 10-7.
After the intermission, it was all Oregon as the defense shut Boise out and the offense added Brunner's touchdown and two <b>Craig Schanding</b> field goals to seal the win.
<IMG SRC="
http://fof2forever.com/CFL/News/brown2.jpg" hspace=5 border=1 ALIGN=LEFT>The victory, however, was not without a price. Maurice Brown suffered a broken clavicle on the final play of the third quarter and will miss seven weeks. The injury occurred when Brown was hit as he threw a 17-yard pass to WR <b>Alden Roy</b> to the Oregon 49.
"I just fell awkwardly, and I heard something crack," Brown said. "I'm disappointed, but I know these guys are gonna keep it going until I get back."
Rookie QB <b>Grant Grady</b> came in and completed the drive, connecting on two of his three passes for 21 yards to set up Schanding's first field goal of the day, a 50-yarder. On the day, Grady finished 9-of-14 for 106 yards, 0 TD and 0 INT, and was responsible for two scoring drives. Grady will get his first NFL start next week at Denver.
"I'm excited for the opportunity," said Grady. "I just wish it wasn't because someone got hurt."