EUGENE, Ore. -- In a season of surprises for the Ducks, perhaps nothing has been more unexpected than the emergence of quarterback Justin Herbert.The freshman, a local kid out of Eugenes Sheldon High School, is already setting school records and drawing comparisons -- however premature -- to former Duck Marcus Mariota. Even his quiet steadiness is similar to the Heisman winners.Hes calm and hes composed, Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown said. You know those people whove got it. Ive been around the game a long time and you just know hes got it. Hes got the `it.The Ducks, who just two seasons ago were playing in the national championship game, have fallen dramatically this season and are in danger of missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2004. Currently 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 play, underdog Oregon visits USC on Saturday.Oregon was sunk by a five-game losing streak after opening the season with a pair of nonconference victories. It was the longest losing streak since a five-game slump in 1996.Because he didnt play in Oregons spring game and many fans hadnt seen him play, it was something of a surprise to those outside the program when Herbert was named graduate transfer Dakota Prukops backup following fall camp.Since then, hes supplanted Prukop as the starter in the past three games. His first opponent was daunting, then-No. 5 Washington, and it wasnt pretty: The Ducks lost 70-21.The next team up was California. Oregon lost 52-49 in double overtime, but Herbert threw for 258 yards and six touchdowns. He tripped up on the last play, throwing an interception and afterward vowed to learn from the experience.His six touchdowns tied the teams single game total -- a feat also achieved by Mariota.Herbert broke into the win column last weekend against Arizona State. Sure, the Sun Devils were decimated by injuries, but Herbert threw for 489 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-35 Oregon victory. His passing yardage tied the Oregon mark set by Bill Musgrave against BYU in 1989.Oregon quarterbacks coach David Yost said one of Herberts strengths is that he doesnt get rattled.What hes been able to do, in that Washington game he knew he didnt play perfect in that game but he didnt lose confidence in himself. He played in the Cal game, he didnt make the play at the end of the game, but he didnt lose confidence in himself. This game is just going to help build his confidence in himself, Yost said. Playing him when we did, I think it worked out right and I think in the long run it will be the best thing for him because he had a little time to ease into it and get a feel.Following the victory over the Sun Devils, the young 6-foot-6 QB was teased for his almost eerie calm. Perhaps it was freshman nerves, but he only briefly cracked a smile when asked if he was excited about the win.Winning that game meant a lot to me and the rest of the team, he said.About the most emotion he showed was when he was told about matching Musgraves yardage mark.I dont know as much about Bill Musgrave as I need to know, he quipped, laughing.It was reminiscent of those early postgame press conferences with Mariota, who was shy and clearly uncomfortable with the limelight. Mariota got more polished as his college career progressed, but remained unassuming.For comparisons sake, Mariota redshirted his freshman year. His first season, he started in the opener and led the team to a 12-1 record. That season he also turned heads against Arizona State, throwing for a touchdown, catching a TD pass and running for another score.Mariota, now with the NFLs Tennessee Titans, has explosive speed and an uncanny ability to improvise on the fly. Herbert, meanwhile, impressed Oregons coaches with his quick grasp of the playbook. Brown said Herbert is especially good at keeping plays alive.Coach Mark Helfrich, who discovered Mariota on a recruiting trip to Hawaii and urged then-coach Chip Kelly to offer him a scholarship on the spot, praises his new young quarterback for his poise and raw talent, while trying to keep perspective.Its not a one-man show, but that quarterback position is awfully important, Helfrich said. We cant anoint anybody at this point, but we like where hes going, we like where his head is, we like his demeanor.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.orgBobby Jones Jersey . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Philadelphia 76ers Gear . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. https://www.cheap76ers.com/1026e-kyle-oquinn-jersey-76ers.html . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Jerryd Bayless Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Matisse Thybulle Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. FLUSHING, N.Y. -- New York Mets infielder Jose Reyes was sent to the hospital after Game 1 of the teams doubleheader with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.Mets manager Terry Collins said Reyes strained his left intercostal muscle -- the muscle between the ribs -- on his last swing of his last at-bat of the game.Collins believes Reyes might only miss a few games and is prepared to use Wilmer Flores at third base for the time being.Reyes went 11-for-5 in Game 1 and is hitting .dddddddddddd239 through 67 at-bats since joining New York earlier this month. Collins said before the game that it would take 125 to 130 at-bats to get a full read on what Reyes could provide the team in its postseason push.Information from ESPNs Adam Rubin was used in this report. ' ' '