It was real ugly.
Oregon had problems scoring the football on a consistent basis and it was a one-possession game in the fourth quarter before the Ducks finally took care of Idaho 24-14 in the season opener.
In front of nearly 58,000 Autzen faithful in 90-degree heat, the Duck offense struggled mightily.
That’s an understatement.
Thankfully, the defense was up to the task, holding the Vandals to just 217 total yards.
But even then, it was 14-7 when the fourth quarter tradition of Shout! came and the coaches might have been shouting in frustration as much as the fans at that time.
Although it was a close game throughout, the Vandals never had the ball with a chance to tie the game or take the lead.
Up by just a touchdown, the Ducks were able to extend the lead with a 26-yard Atticus Sappington field goal to make it 17-7.
To the Vandals credit, they didn’t lay down.
They took the ball 75 yards on six plays to be within a mere field goal at 17-14.
Although the offense was up and down, when it counted most, the Ducks put together their best drive of the game, a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard pass to Tez Johnson in the front corner of the end zone on a 4th-and-2 play. It was Johnson’s second touchdown on the day.
When the game was over, the stat sheet said the Ducks dominated as they should have, but the final score says something else. Oregon outgained the Vandals 487-213 and had 31 first downs to Idaho’s 10.
Gabriel ended the game 41-of-49 passing for 380 yards and two touchdowns.
The first half wasn’t exactly how Dan Lanning or the Ducks planned it out as they could drive in between the 20s, but ticking the ball in the end zone seemed a bit more difficult than it needed to be against the Vandals.
Oregon led in total yards in the first half to the tune of 296-113, but held just a 14-0 halftime lead.
Idaho was stopped on its opening possession and everything was hunky dory for the Ducks as they drove 71 yards in 11 plays that ended with Johnson scoring from seven yards out for the early 7-0 lead.
But broken plays and penalties were the theme for the majority of the first 30 minutes of action.Oregon did manage to finally score in the second quarter when it drove 80 yards in eight plays resulting in a James six-yard touchdown.
The Vandals did manage their best drive of the half as they were able to march down to the Duck 23-yard line, but safety Brandon Johnson intercepted Layne’s pass in end zone.
Oregon hosts Boise State next Saturday, Sept. 7 with a 7:30 pm kickoff on the streaming service Peacock.