ARIZONA 0/6/0/0 - 6
OREGON 14/7/7/6 - 34
EUGENE, OREGON - The Ducks held their sixth opponent of the season to less than eight points when they dismantled Kevin Sumlin’s Wildcats at Autzen stadium to earn their ninth consecutive victory and a spot in the PAC-12 Championship game. The Oregon offense racked up 21 unanswered points in the first half, then Avalos’ squad blanked the Wildcats in the second half after allowing just two field goals at the end of the second quarter.
It took just two plays for the Ducks to take an early lead: CJ Verdell picked up two yards on his opening carry, then Johnny Johnson III took advantage of a Wildcat miscommunication by taking a pass from Justin Herbert 73 yards for the touchdown. Later in the first quarter, Oregon found little resistance through the air or on the ground as Herbert orchestrated a 13-play, 76-yard drive that finished with a classic one-yard rushing score from Cyrus Habibi-Likio to go up 14 to 0.
Freshman kicker Camden Lewis, two games removed from a game-winning field goal against Washington State, missed a 20-yard attempt that would have added to the lopsided score. But the Duck defense responded by forcing another Arizona punt, and seven plays later, Oregon built a three-score lead when Herbert connected with Juwan Johnson on a 53-yard reverse flea-flicker. Arizona running back JJ Taylor helped bring some life to the Wildcat sidelines with a kick return to midfield, then the talented back gained good yardage on consecutive drives, resulting in two field goals to cut the lead to 15 right before the half.
In the second half, Mario Cristobal and the Ducks had the luxury of playing ball control, as the WIldcat offense was grossly outmatched by an angry Duck defense that tallied six sacks. Arizona’s next six possessions went as follows: Punt, Punt, Fumble, Punt, Downs, Downs. Oregon’s next scoring drive started with 9:10 left in the third from the Arizona 41-yard line and concluded with a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Webb. It appeared the Wildcats found some momentum when Scottie Young Jr. picked off Herbert and returned the ball 42 yards to the Arizona 48, but the drive ended with yet another punt from the visiting team.
Near the start of the fourth quarter, the Ducks traveled 88 yards in eight plays to score their fifth and final touchdown, a 33-yard screen pass to Travis Dye, but Lewis piled on to his off night by missing the point-after. The 28-point lead was enough for Coach Sumlin to put in backup QB Grant Gunnell, but the change in personnel hardly seemed to matter as the Wildcats ended their final two drives on failed fourth-down conversions.
““The biggest goal of the week was to be 1-0. It just also happens to coincide with a Pac-12 North title. But that being said, the best part about it, our guys — and this sounds like a broken record every time I come here and see (the media) after a game — our guys feel like we still haven't played our best football. And that's awesome to hear”
- Mario Cristobal
Oregon Offense (total: 471 - pass: 333 - rush: 138)
Arizona Offense (total: 240 - pass: 132 - rush: 108)
Oregon Defense (forced turnovers: 0)
Arizona Defense (forced turnovers: 1 - INT: 1)
UO (9-1, 7-0) UA (4-6, 2-5)