This game is on the road and the Ducks have over 43,000 fans here today.
They get the ball first, and drive down the length of the field with relative ease. Looks like another slow start for our defense. Bob Smith their HB ends the drive with a 5 yard TD. Smith had 43 yards rushing on the drive.
We start off with an 18 yard strike from Randy to Randy. A few plays later, Collins is unable to convert a 3rd and 9 and we have to punt.
Fortunately, we hold them to 3 and out.
Randy is showing some inaccuracy this game, and it kills our drive after a few plays.
We exchange a few failed drives. On our next drive, Randy is really playing well completing 3 passes in a row, before he decides to scramble. Unfortunately, he got popped by the SS and was injured on the play. Our trainer says he is almost certainly done for the day. Bennie will have to make it happen.
Bennie isn't able to convert the 3rd and 6 the next play and we hit a 49 yard FG. 7-3 Oregon.
End of the 1st, we are down 7-3.
We stop them after a few plays.
Our next drive, Malcolm is stuffed on the 1st run, but on his 2nd run, he jukes two guys, then runs down the sideline for a LONG TD! 71 yard rush! 10-7. Malcolm is such an explosive player.
The next drive they get to midfield, before Darcey Middleton sacks the QB and causes a fumble! We recover.
Bennie can't connect on a 3rd and 5, and we settle for a 50 yard FG. 13-7 lead for us.
Bennie is having a hard time hitting open guys, and we are exchanging failed drives.
We've been shuttng Flores down, but he scrambles on a play and then throws it just before crossing the endline for a 46 yard pass to his man. Then, two plays later he hits Myers his best WR for a 10 yard TD catch. 14-13 game with 3 minutes left in the half.
On our next drive, Cliff Bell makes a great leaping catch to save Bennie's high throw and convert a 3rd and 6.
We get just across midfield, before being stopped and having to punt.
Halftime: 14-13 lead for Oregon.
Randy Collins stats: 5 for 9 for 74 yards. 0 TD 0 INT.
Bennie Brady: 1 of 4 for 8 yards.
On the first drive of the second half, Bennie converts a 3rd and 7 with a pass to Branch. He then converts a 3rd and 3 by scrambling for 4 himself.
He gets us across midfield, but we are stopped outside the 40 yard line.
Bill Hampton has a huge sack to stop their drive, and we get the ball in good field position thanks to a decent return by Jonathan Green.
Our Freshman tackle, Mike Walker has a holding penalty that negates a 22 yard pass completion. However, Bennie comes back and throws a 54 yard pass. But, it is also negated by a holding call on our center! Ugh. Penalties killed us this drive.
Our defense holds them to a 3 and out to get us back the ball.
Renaldo Pugh our FB is injured on the 1st play of the drive, and it looks potentially serious.
Bennie does a decent job of leading a balanced drive in which we march 49 yards, but that was 5 yards too short. We settle for the short FG. 16-14 lead.
We hold them to 3 and out as the 3rd quarter ends.
End of 3, 16-14 lead for us.
We exchange failed drives, but a poor punt gives us excellent field position on their 24!
Unfortunately, we can't move the ball at all and we have to settle for a 42 yard FG. 19-14 lead. Malcolm is really getting stuffed.
They put together a good drive, but we stop them at the 27 yad line. They miss the 44 yard FG!!
Unfortunately, Bennie is hurt slightly, and our 3rd string QB throws an interception on his first play. Flores hits a 55 yard TD pass on the next play! They fail the 2 pt conversion, and it is now 20-19 Oregon.
We have 6 minutes left to win this thing..
Bennie is back, and he starts off with a 12 yard strike to Cliff Bell.
On 2nd and 9, his long pass to Branch is overthrown.
Bennie's next throw is towards Branch, but the MLB intercepts it!
We force a 3 and out and get the ball back with about 4 minutes left...
A personal foul on the punt return gives us good position on our own 40.
We drive down the field but are unable to convert a 4th and 8 from the 38. It looks like we are going to lose..
We force them to punt, but Jonathan Green is unable to return it all the way.
Game over. 20-19 loss at Oregon
Malcolm Maston has shown me that he is a true homerun threat, but he is an all or nothing guy. He had the 71 yard TD, but had about 35 yards on his other 20 carries. He was great as a #2 back, but I miss Alan's undeniable consistency.
Let's look at the box score.