Instead of just guessing about what happened in the games, wouldn't it be more appropriate to look at each game? According to this myth Harrington should be getting huge yards against tired defenses late in games. Here are all the Oregon games from his senior season 2001, and the year with the two 1000 yard running backs.
This is not saying Harrington was great or anything special. These are facts to show that the myth of Harrington padding stats late in games against "tired" defenses is false. If you look at the games where the comebacks happened this year, it was in games where the lead changed several times. The one loss this season was a high scoring game where Oregon had a seemingly safe lead late.
Oregon 31*(Fourth quarter comeback)
Wisconsin 28
"The Badgers (1-1) came back from a 10-0 first-quarter deficit and took the lead three times in the second half."
"Harrington was particularly adept during one third-quarter scoring drive, when he completed passes for first downs on third-and-11, -6 and -17."
Morris 15 carries 18 yards
Harrington 22-47, 277 yards, 3 tds 2 ints
23 yard TD pass to Peele
25 yard pass to Peele
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090101aad.html
Oregon 24
Utah 10
"25- and 14-yard touchdown passes to Howry"
"The Ducks led nearly the entire game, except for a brief 10-10 tie in the second quarter."
Harrington 17-27, 220 yards, 2 tds 0 ints
Morris 12-59
Smith 11-45 all in the 2nd half.
Total rushing 32-107
Total passing 270 yards
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090801aac.html
Oregon 24*(fourth quarter comeback)
USC 22
"Harrington passed over the middle to Peelle for a 21-yard score and a 21-6 lead"
"With Southern California trailing 21-6 early in the third quarter..."
"But the Ducks got the ball back with 56 seconds to go, and Harrington moved his team 61 yards in just 44 seconds. The key play was a 22-yard pass to Keenan Howry"
"The Ducks got a strong game from Maurice Morris, who ran for 86 yards after being held to 76 the first two games."
Harrington 22-35 188 1 td
14-6 at half, 21-6 early in 3rd
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/092201aah.html
Oregon 38
Utah St. 21
"...drawing the Aggies to 17-14 four minutes into the second half. But Harrington came back with an 86-yard drive, topped by a 27-yard TD pass to tight end Justin Peelle for a 24-14 lead."
"The O-line did a great job. The holes were huge," Harrington said. "This is a good confidence builder that we can run the ball now."
“Ran the ball well in the second half”
"For three quarters, it was a shootout."
Harrington 17-24 261
Morris 175 yards
Smith 98 yards
289 yards total rushing
24-21 at the end of 3rd
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/092901aai.html
Oregon 63
Arizona 28
Harrington 15-24 279 3 tds, 3 rushing tds
(sat the 4th quarter)
Harrington was 7-9, 152 yards, 2 scores in the 2nd quarter
14-19, 267, 3 tds in first half
15-25, 279 total
Smith 15 carries for 131
Morris 21 carries for 110
Oregon up 14-0, Arizona then tied it at 14.
35-14 at half
38 yard TD pass to Parker (first college TD)
17 yard TD pass to Peelle.
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100601aaf.html
Oregon 48
Cal 7
Harrington 13-20 181 2 tds, 1 rushing td
(sat the 4th quarter)
21 points in the first 12 minutes
37 yard TD pass to Parker
42-0 in 3rd
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/101301aab.html
Oregon 42
Stanford 49
22-41, 270, 3 tds, 2 ints
Howry 9 catches 152 yards.
39 yard TD pass to Howry
Harrington had 173 yards and 3 TDs in first quarter.
21-14 in 1st quarter
Up 35-21 late in 3rd
Up 42-28 in the 4th quarter
"All Oregon had to to was salt away the clock, but on third and 1 from his own 30, Harrington was hit by safety Tank Williams and the ball floated into the hands of diving defensive end Marcus Hoover at the 33...'Not my call,' Harrington said of the play. 'Second guess all you want...we tried."
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/102001aad.html
#11 Oregon 24
#14 Wash St. 17
Harrington 14-26 119
7-3 at half
Smith 26 carries for 285 yards
Morris 19 carries for 138 yards
"...limited the Cougars to 394, nearly 100 yards less then their 492
yard average."
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/102701aai.html
Oregon 42
ASU 24
"Sure, let them try to stop the run, and I'll throw the ball,' Harrington said. 'Let them try to stop the pass, and I'll run the ball, I have such a fun time running this offenses."
"We never go into a game wanting to do a certain thing,' Bellottie said. 'The key for us is throwing the ball when we want to throw the ball, not when we have to throw the ball."
"Smith a sophomore, got his first start at tailback in place of Maurice Morris, who did not play because of a pulled left hamstring. Smith had 152 yards on 26 carries but was bottled up for the first three quarters."
Harrington 19-32 319, 6 tds
Smith 36-152, bottled up the first 3 quarters
Morris pulled hamstring DNP
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/110301aai.html
#7 Oregon 21*(fourth quarter comeback)
#17 UCLA 20
Harrington 13-23 195, 1 rushing td
Morris 14 carries for 129 yards
Up 14-10 at the half
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111001aaa.html
#4 Oregon 17
Oregon St. 14
Harrington 11-22 104
Morris 102 (52 on the last drive)
Smith 30 yards
"Even with the twin attack of Morris and Onterrio Smith, Oregon had trouble running the ball in the first half, and faced several third-and-long situations."
"Smith went over the 1,000-yard mark with 30 yards, giving him 1,007. Morris has 960 yards, giving Oregon a chance at two 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in school history."
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/120101aaa.html
#2 Oregon 38
#3 Colorado 16
Harrington 350, 4 tds
232 yards, 3 tds 1st half.
28-7 lead early in 3rd
Parker 9 catches for 162 yards
79 yard TD pass to Parker
http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/recaps/010102aaa.html