QUICKIE RECAP
No. 8 Oregon ( 4-0 / 1-0 ) flexed its offensive muscle Saturday night at the Rose Bowl as the Ducks rolled the UCLA Bruins 34-13.
The Ducks scored 28 points in the first half and held the Bruins to just -7 rushing yards through the first two quarters. In the second half, the Ducks could only muster a single touchdown, but that’s all they needed to beat UCLA 34-13.
Dillon Gabriel led the Ducks with three aerial touchdowns, while WR Tez Johnson caught two of Gabriel’s scoring passes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ducks offense didn’t waste any time finding the endzone to begin the game.
After receiving the opening kickoff Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel navigated a perfect 12-play – 75-yard drive that found the endzone when Garbriel tossed the first of his three touchdowns to receiver Traeshon Holden – a 12 yard scoring pass to give the Ducks an early 7-0 lead.
Seven minutes later the Bruins placekicker Mateen Bhaghani drilled a 27 yard field goal to make it 7-3 at the 2:35 mark of the 1st quarter.
Moments later the Ducks would add a field goal of their own when Atticus Sappington notched a 41-yard kick through the uprights to make it 10-3 Ducks.
On the ensuing drive by the Bruins, Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher grabbed his first interception of the season when he stepped in front of an Ethan Garbers pass at the Bruin 23 yard line to give the Ducks defense their first turnover of the game and their 7th of the season.
After the turnover it took the Ducks just 6 plays to find the endzone when RB Jordan James scored on a 2 yard run up the middle to push the score to 17-3 at the 11:53 mark of the 2nd quarter. It was James’ fourth rushing touchdown of the season.
After the Ducks defense forced a UCLA punt on the Bruins next possession, Gabriel once again went to work. After the turnover, and on the second play from scrimmage, Gabriel found receiver Tez Johnson on a 52 yard scoring pass to extend the Ducks lead to 25-3. The Ducks 2-point conversion was good when TE Kenyon Sadiq found fellow tight end Terrance Ferguson in the endzone.
The Ducks would add another Sappington field goal – this one a 42 yard score to give Oregon a 28-3 lead with 2:26 to play in the first half.
Again the Oregon defense did its job giving the ball right back to the Ducks with under two minutes to play.
Gabriel again went to work and drove the Oregon offense to the 9 yard line, however after his receiver fell down, Gabriel threw an ill-advised pass toward the endzone and was picked off by former Duck Bryan Addison who raced for a 96-yard score to tighten the score to 28-10 at the halftime break.
At the half, the Oregon defense was rock solid in their play holding the Bruins rushing attack to minus 7 yards and a total of 59 yards.
Midway through the 3rd quarter, the Bruins would add an additional field goal to their total, but that was the extent of their scoring for the remainder of the game.
In the fourth quarter, the Ducks would find the endzone at the 9:37 mark when Gabriel led his offense on an 11-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a beautiful 12-yard scoring toss to Johnson to give Oregon the final margin of victory at 34-13. The Ducks missed the PAT attempt after the score.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT;
Oregon returns home to Autzen Stadium next Friday, October 4th to take on Michigan State.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm. The game is being nationally televised on Fox TV.