AT UW, DUCKS DROP HEARTBREAKER
The Ducks came back from being down 29-18 early in the third quarter to take the lead with two touchdowns and some strong defence, including a goal-line stand with 6:18 remaining while up 33-29. But with 2:11 remaining, Oregon was halted near midfield for the third time in the game on a fourth down, Washington immediately drove to the winning score, and the Ducks missed a possible game-tying field goal.
The No. 8 Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) will play Washington State at home on Saturday in an effort to refocus. The two remaining unbeaten Pac-12 teams are USC and the No. 7 Huskies.
In the end, they made a few more plays than we did, according to UO coach Dan Lanning. “We made some decisions we probably could have made differently throughout that game, but our guys battled to the end I thought they showed some resiliency.”
Up until the half, the score remained back and forth. Oregon was stopped on fourth down at the 3-yard line to finish the half, giving UW a 22-18 lead. Lanning noted that of Washington’s three fourth-down stops in the game, that was the one he would thoroughly watch on film.
On Saturday night, he told reporters, “This game is 100 percent on me. “I don’t think you guys have to look anywhere else but me.”
After Washington grabbed a 29-18 lead in the third, the Ducks turned the ball over on downs once again within the 10-yard line, but Oregon’s defence then forced back-to-back three-and-outs. With less than a quarter remaining, touchdowns by Troy Franklin and Jordan James gave the Ducks the lead.
Oregon preserved a 33-29 advantage in the fourth by stopping three straight runs inside the 3-yard line. With 6:33 remaining, Oregon took possession at the 2-yard line and marched to midfield, but with 2:11 left, a failed pass gave the ball back to Washington, and the Huskies scored two plays later.
Troy Franklin, a receiver for the UO, remarked, “We thought we had the game in our hands.” “We just didn’t finish.”
On the last play of regulation, Oregon drove into position for a 43-yard field goal, but the kick was inaccurate. The defeat on Saturday came just over a year after Washington won 37-34 in Autzen Stadium thanks to a winning field goal with little over a minute remaining.
Lanning promised, “I’ll go back and assess myself.” “It’s about adapting — the game’s about adapting and getting better.”
Franklin had eight receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown while Bo Nix completed 33 of his 44 passes for 337 yards and two scores. James contributed 63 yards with a rushing touchdown while Bucky Irving gained 127 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
On defence, Jahlil Florence got an interception, Brandon Dorlus had five tackles and a sack, and Steve Stephens IV led the Ducks with seven stops. Washington’s 415 total yards and 316 yards gained via the air were season lows due to Oregon’s defence.
