ARIZONA 7/14/7/0 - 28
OREGON 14/14/7/13 - 48
EUGENE, OREGON - After missing five games due to a broken collarbone suffered against Cal on a touchdown run, Justin Herbert made his long awaited return to Autzen stadium and did not disappoint. amassing 235 yards, one interception, and one touchdown on 14-of-21 passing while also adding 40 yards and a score on the ground. Meanwhile, Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate averaged 201 rushing yards in his last six games before playing Oregon, but against the Duck defense the QB finished with just 21 rushing yards. The victory gave the Ducks a 6-5 record to earn them a bowl bid with only the Civil War remaining on their regular season schedule.
Oregon punted on the opening possession, and Arizona responded by putting together an 11-play, 83-yard drive that was capped off with an 18-yard touchdown run from Nick Wilson. The Ducks tied it up on the next drive when Herbert ran in a touchdown from 40 yards out, and after a Wildcat three-and-out, Oregon used a series of successful run plays to set up four-yard Royce Freeman touchdown to take a 14-7 lead.
However, Herbert then threw an interception at the top of the second quarter that sparked 14 consecutive points from the Wildcats: Dane Cruikshank picked off Herbert and then returned it 64 yards to the Oregon 15-yard line, three plays later Tate connected with Tony Ellison on a 15-yard touchdown pass. And on Arizona’s next possession, Nick Wilson ran in his second score to give the Wildcats a seven point lead. Freeman helped fuel a 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Jacob Breeland from the Wildcat 39-yard line, and with 1:32 left in the half Freeman gave the Ducks a 28-21 lead off of a 28-yard touchdown run. Ugo Amadi preserved the seven-point advantage by snatching an interception to end the final Wildcat drive before halftime.
Freeman scored his third rushing touchdown at the 6:56 mark in the third quarter, but Arizona’s Zach Green capped off an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a short touchdown to keep within seven of Oregon. But the Duck defense kept the Wildcats scoreless for the rest of the contest, while the Oregon offense scored 13 points to finish with a 48-28 victory. Aidan Schneider connected on field goal attempts of 40 and 24 yards, but missed his third kick late in the fourth. Freeman ran in his fourth touchdown in the final quarter after a reverse flea-flicker to Johnny Johnson III picked up 50 yards to reach the one-yard line. Freeman’s four-touchdown, 135-yard performance gave him sole possession of the UO record for career touchdowns.
Oregon Offense (total: 588 - pass: 235 - rush: 353)
Arizona Offense (total: 330 - pass: 159 - rush: 171)
Oregon Defense (forced turnovers: 2 - INT: 2)
Arizona Defense (forced turnovers: 1 - INT: 1)
UO (6-5, 3-5) UA (7-4. 5-3)