UC DAVIS 7/0/14/7 - 28
OREGON 8/17/14/14 - 53
EUGENE, OREGON - In his Oregon debut, grad transfer Dakota Prukop led the Ducks to victory in the 2016 season opener. For the second year in a row, coach Mark Helfrich brought in a transfer to quarterback his team, and against UC Davis Prukop showed promise, finishing 21-of-30 for 271 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also rushing 36 yards and a score. The Ducks trailed early, and 21 points allowed in the second half highlighted some weaknesses, but the 53-28 win was a good showing from the Oregon offense.
Things got off to a rough start for the Ducks when after a UC Davis three-and-out Charles Nelson fumbled the proceeding punt return, five plays later quarterback Ben Scott ran in a nine-yard touchdown to put the Aggies up 7-0. Oregon scored late in the first quarter when Royce Freeman capped off an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown, then Nelson helped claim the lead by tacking on a successful two-point conversion.
The Duck TD began a 33-point run that extended into the third quarter: Aidan Schneider hit a 31-yard field goal, Dakota Prukop connected on touchdown passes to Johnny Mundt and Jalen Brown before building a 26-point lead with a one-yard touchdown run.
The second half was a sloppier showing from the Ducks, particularly the third quarter. After Prukop’s short rushing touchdown gave Oregon a 33-7 lead, UC Davis used a 50-yard pass to Keelan Doss to set up a touchdown run from Manusamoa Luuga. Charles Nelson gave the Ducks great field position with a 65-yard kickoff return, but on fourth-and-2 the Aggies were able to stop Freeman Another fantastic kickoff return from Nelson resulted in Freeman’s second touchdown, however, UC Davis not only responded to the score with an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, they also recovered Nelson’s second botched kick return of the contest.
Freshman Troy Dye negated the damage of the fumble by blocking a field goal early in the fourth, and Prukop rewarded his effort by connecting with Darren Carrington II for a 55-yard touchdown on the next drive. Oregon went on to allow a fourth and final UC Davis touchdown with 6:44 left in the game, but ended the season opener on a high note with a 33-yard touchdown run from Tony Brooks-James.
Overall, the Ducks went for five two-point conversions and succeeded on three of them. Charles Nelson had 251 yards as a returner, but also fumbled twice on special teams, and the freshman Troy Dye made a name for himself early by recording 11 tackles, one sack, and a blocked field goal. New defensive coordinator Brady Hoke, on the other hand, raised a few concerns by allowing 28 points to lowly UC Davis. Autzen Stadium failed to sellout, snapping an 110-game streak that began in 1999.
The last snap of the game went to freshman Justin Herbert, the backup quarterback who would go on to become Oregon’s hometown hero.
Oregon Offense (total: 522 - pass: 271 - rush: 251)
UC Davis Offense (total: 392 - pass: 303 - rush: 89)
Oregon Defense (forced turnovers: 1 - INT: 1)
UC Davis Defense (forced turnovers: 2 - FUM: 2)
UO (1-0) UCD (0-1)