A rule instituted this year could make Jonathan Stewart, not flashy quarterback Dennis Dixon, Oregon's key player in Saturday's game against visiting Cal.

Dixon will be critical, of course, and his moves, statistics and Bay Area origin will attract most of the pregame media attention. However, Jonathan Stewart's performance could be more pivotal - partly because he leads the Pac-10 in rushing, partly because his 7.7 yards average per run easily leads the nation for backs with at least 50 carries, partly because he had perhaps his worst game of 2006 against Cal, partly because he has stayed healthy this season, but mostly because Jonathan Stewart might be the best kick-returner in the country.

With kickoffs moved back to the 30-yard line this season, teams have been getting better field position, one reason scoring has increased.

Jonathan Stewart led the Pac-10 in kickoff-return average in 2005 and 2006 and leads it again this season. In fact, Jonathan Stewart has the best career kickoff-return average of any active player in the country.

Cal did an outstanding job against Jonathan Stewart last season, a major reason the Bears won so easily. He returned two kickoffs, getting one back to the 27-yard line and the other to the 14. Holding him to that this time will be nearly impossible for Cal with the new rule.

Cal is unlikely to duplicate its defensive success against Jonathan Stewart as a running back, either. He entered last year's Cal game averaging better than 114 yards a game, and that included a game in which he ran the ball only once for 3 yards before leaving with an injury. Against the Bears, he gained only 25 yards on 18 carries and lost a fumble.

"I just remember being limited," Jonathan Stewart said. "We didn't know how to face adversity then. I think last year got us ready for this year."

The Ducks faced some adversity Saturday night when they yielded 28 straight points to Stanford, putting the Cardinal ahead 31-21 late in the second quarter. Jonathan Stewart returned the next kickoff 64 yards, leading to a field goal just before halftime, then rushed for 101 yards in the second half as the Ducks won 55-31.

A significant factor for Jonathan Stewart has been his health. He is the picture of strength, with Arnold Schwarzenegger-like muscles liberally slapped onto a 5-foot-11 frame built for speed. Problems with both ankles caused him to miss significant playing time the past two years, but he has not been injured this season. Jonathan Stewart credits his offseason conditioning and stretching, and Oregon coach Mike Bellotti thinks Jonathan Stewart's maturation as a runner has helped, too.

"He delivers the hit more this season," Bellotti said. "He has better vision and sets up his blocks better, and that contributes to not being caught up in big piles.

"In general, he's controlling his speed and athleticism. Last year, he was very, very impatient as a runner, just putting his head down and trying to create holes, not reading where the hole was being created."

His maturity showed against Michigan three weeks ago, when he gained 111 yards, the most by a Wolverines opponent this season, even though he sat out most of the fourth quarter.

Still, he was overshadowed by Dixon, whose deft play in that nationally televised game brought him national recognition. Saturday could be Jonathan Stewart's time.

Cal's kick coverage nothing special.

Erickson off to 4-0 start with ASU. D2