CFP SEMIS: Netnonie missed PAT the difference as Ducks win Rose Bowl; set to play in search of second National Title
It was a sensational rally. Georgia Tech, trailing 38-17 late in the third quarter, strung together three straight touchdown drives, one after the other, in a span of five minutes to claw back into a game in which many fans had thought was fading out of reach. The Jackets were set to tie up the score and turn the Farmers Insurance Rose Bowl into a brand-new game...
...Until the usually reliable German senior kicker R.J. Netnonie missed the PAT after the third touchdown.
Netnonie, a Groza Award finalist this year, had only missed one PAT in his career previously. However, this simple missed kick ruined his team's chances. Tech lost all of their momentum and couldn't quite recover, as the Oregon defense stuffed Jackets QB David Brigham multiple times on 3rd and 4th downs in the fourth quarter. The last stop was a sack on fourth down with a minute remaining -- Oregon would go on to hang on for the win, 38-37.
Oregon will advance to play in the National Title Game for the third time since its inception in 2006 and for the second time in the Playoff era. Oregon is making their third appearance in the College Football Playoff - they have previously lost in their semifinal match against UConn in the 2017 Sugar Bowl, and defeated South Carolina to win the 2014 National Title, the first in program history.
Quarterback Se'Nelquez "Nelly" DeWeaver led Oregon with 224 yards passing, 110 yards rushing and 3 total touchdowns. Fullback Tiger Novak chipped in two scores of his own for the now 13-1 Ducks.