VIRGINIA 6/0/14/6 - 26
OREGON 13/17/14/0 - 44
EUGENE, OREGON - The Ducks built a 30-6 lead at the half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Autzen stadium. Dakota Prukop finished 21-of-31 for 331 yards and three touchdowns, Royce Freeman carried the ball 21 times for 21.0 yards and two touchdowns, and the Oregon defense forced two turnovers to help widen the deficit in what resulted in a 44-to-26 Duck victory.
Oregon was forced to punt on their opening drive, but scored a touchdown on its next four possessions: Royce Freeman capped off a six-play, 81-yard drive with a short touchdown run to take the lead, Tony Books-James then added to the total with a seven-yard run, then a 99-yard drive finished with a two-yard touchdown pass from Prukop to Dwayne Stanford, and with 3:05 left before halftime Pharaoh Brown caught an 11-yard pass in the end zone to establish a 21-point lead. Freshman Brenden Schooler picked off Kurt Benkert on the Cavaliers’ final drive before the half, and Oregon was able to reach the UVA three-yard line to set up an easy Aidan Schneider field goal just as the second quarter expired.
Virginia’s first touchdown took place in the first quarter, immediately after Oregon’s opening score, the Cavaliers marched down the field and tied the game with an Albert Reid seven-yard touchdown run. Oregon failed their attempted two-point conversion, but Virginia couldn’t take the lead when Dylan Sims missed the point-after. Virginia scored again in the third quarter, using nine plays to travel 65 yards and cut the lead to 17 with a four-yard touchdown run from Taquan Mizzell.
The Ducks responded with two quick and lethal drives that sealed the win. Oregon answered UVA’s second score with a 77-yard touchdown pass to Devon Allen, who brought in a 55-yard reception earlier in the game, the track star celebrated the score by imitating a track meet in the end zone, running through hurdles. Oregon’s next drive consisted of just two plays: a five-yard carry from Freeman, then an 85-yard touchdown run from Freeman. The Duck defense allowed two passing touchdowns from quarterback Kurt Benkert to close out the second half, but ended the contest on a high note with a late interception from Khalil Oliver.
Oregon Offense (total: 632 - pass: 331 - rush: 301)
Virginia Offense (total: 388 - pass: 195 - rush: 193)
Oregon Defense (forced turnovers: 2 - INT: 2)
Virginia Defense (forced turnovers: 0)
UO (2-0) UV (0-2)