QUICK GLANCE
The question was asked several times throughout the week leading up to the Oregon – Stony Brook match-up.
Would the No. 4 Ducks have a less than stellar performance against the much inferior Seawolves after their monstrous road win over Ohio State?
It was most certainly a tale of two halves.
After the first 30 minutes, the Ducks limped into the break leading 17-7 and were playing uninspired football.
In the second half though, the Ducks came out and scored 31 consecutive points and held Stony Brook scoreless in a 48-7 runaway.
The win was certainly the big-ticket item when the clock hit zero in the 4th quarter, but more importantly, starting signal-caller Anthony Brown didn’t return from the halftime locker room after taking two huge hits late in the second stanza.
Oregon was certainly more inspired in the second half on both sides of the football and now heads into conference play 3-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an early interception thrown by Seawolf QB Tyquell Fields, just 40 seconds into the game, the Ducks took an early 3-0 lead on a Camden Lewis 40 yard field goal. The score was set up by safety Verone McKinley who stole a deep pass over the middle.
The Oregon lead grew to 10-0 seven minutes later at the 5:18 mark of the opening quarter when Anthony Brown led the Ducks on a 10 play – 86 yard drive that ended with a 9-yard pitch pass to C.J Verdell. It was Verdell’s second touchdown reception of the young season.
It didn’t take long for the Seawolves to close the gap though. Fields led SBU on an 11 play – 75 yard drive that ended with a nice 5 yard scoring run by tailback Ty Son Lawton. It was Oregon 10, SBU 7 as time expired in the first.
The Ducks came right back and extended their lead to 17-7 when Anthony Brown found the end zone on a 7 yard run at the 12:03 mark of the second. It was Brown’s second scoring run of the season.
Six and a half minutes later, and driving across midfield and into Oregon territory, Fields dropped back and lofted a pass deep near the Duck goal line which was again picked off by McKinley for his second steal of the game.
The Ducks would take their 17-7 lead into the break.
In the second half, it was all Oregon on both sides of the football.
Offensively, Oregon began the final 30 minutes with the ball, but without their starting QB Anthony Brown who remained in the locker room after taking several big hits late in the second quarter. Up next, and how all of Eugene were waiting to see, was five-star true freshman Ty Thompson.
Midway through the 3rd, and on his second possession, Thompson steered the Duck offense on a 10 -play – 48 yard drive which ended with his first touchdown pass of his college career – a one yarder to fellow freshman, TE Terrance Ferguson. It was the first touchdowns of their young careers for both freshmen. The Ducks went up 24-7 with 7:45 remaining in the third.
Moments later, and after Fields’ third interception of the game, the Ducks offense got the ball back and scored quickly in three plays culminating with a Travis Dye 3 yard run extending the Ducks lead to 31-7 with :98 seconds left in the third.
Oregon would go on to score two additional touchdowns, the first a beautiful 54-yard connection between Thompson and freshman receiver Dont’e Thornton, (the first score of his career ), and the second touchdown a 3-yard score by redshirt freshman running back Trey Benson giving the Ducks a 48-7 drubbing of Stony Brook.
“There were some bright spots in the first half, but not really enough,” said Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal after the game.
“We need to take more control of a game like that earlier on. But very encouraged by the second half.”
KEY PLAYS & MVP
The Oregon defense once again gets the MVP nod in this game.
Primarily, safety Verone McKinley who grabbed two interceptions and now has three on the season with his one theft last week against the Buckeyes. As a team, the Ducks forced four turnovers in the game and held the Seawolf offense to just 6 of 16 on 3rd downs.
Each of the four turnovers, ( three interceptions and one fumble recovery ) led directly to Oregon points.
UP NEXT
Next week, the Ducks begin Pac-12 play when Arizona comes to Eugene. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 local time with the game being nationally televised on ESPN.
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS