The Oregon Ducks welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Autzen stadium for a classic B1G after dark matchup. Both teams were looking to bounce back after a close loss the previous week.
The big question for Oregon was who would be getting the start at Quarterback. After it was confirmed earlier in the week that Dante Moore would be out it was an open question whether Oregon would see if Dylan Raiola could bounce back from an ugly performance against UCLA or if Walk-on Brock Thomas would get his first
career start.
Early indications were that it would be Brock Thomas behind yet another new offensive line combination.
It doesn’t bother me that the staff is trying to find a new solution. What bothers me is the Oregon offensive line brain power has had to go to their 8th answer for something they should have figured out by Week 2. I suppose when all of the options for offensive linemen are not physically developed because the O-Line coach has cared more about looking cool in Ducks vs Them videos instead of doing his actual job the options are not going to be ideal. I think there is a saying about deck chairs and the Titanic that is appropriate here but I digress.
Nebraska won the toss and elected to defer meaning we would see the offence first. Would they pick up a first down? Would they make me question my undying loyalty to this team? Would Brock Thomas cement himself as a Eugene and Oregon legend?
1st Quarter
My TV stream elected to show me 3 minutes of commercials to start the game instead of, the game, meaning I missed each teams first 3 and out. Which is probably a good thing because each Oregon 3 and out I have to watch leads me closer to walking into the Pacific ocean fully clothed.
Oregon’s 2nd drive the Ducks were able to pick up the rare 1st down via 2 screen passes. The Ducks then attempted to hit a trick play, but it fell incomplete and put them behind the chains. The next two Oregon passes would be short completions Nebraska was able to wrap up on leading to Oregon’s 2nd punt of the game.
Mirroring Oregon, Nebraska would pick up a singular first down as well before the Duck defense would get a stop and force another punt. 3 years into this conference and the B1G West has infected our beloved football team. It was going to be a dueling game of punts with the winner being who would screw up the least. I love it here.
Oregon’s 3rd possession of the game they elected to try running the ball. All 3 runs failed and they needed to Punt. 1/2 way through the 1st quarter I was counting down the minutes until I didn’t have to watch this slop anymore.
Oregon forced a 3rd and 6 on Nebraska’s 3rd drive, but a good screen design allowed the Huskers to convert. Luckily that’s all the Huskers were able to get as the defense was able to stop Nebraska on the next series of downs. Nebraska had an opportunity to pin Oregon deep and really start to win the field position battle, but their coverage team messed up the downing of the ball and Oregon was lucky they were able to get a touchback meaning their anemic offence wouldn’t have to start in the shadow of their goal posts.
Oregon’s first two plays of their next drive Brock was unable to hit receivers in stride forcing 3rd and 10. On 3rd down Jamari Johnson did pick up 9 yards to bring up 4th and 1 and it did look like they going to go for it but Nebraska called a timeout.
The Cornhuskers did pick up a first down on their next drive but the Ducks got lucky when the Nebraska receiver dropped a pass that would have been the first explosive play of the game then on 3rd and 6 a beautiful stunt was called and Naz Wyatt picked up the sack to get the stop for Oregon. I can’t believe one of the best defenses in school history is going to be wasted away because the O-Line can’t block and our offensive staff can’t script a single first down.
2nd Quarter
Oregon’s first drive of the 2nd quarter they were able to get an explosive run and first down with Jordon Davison and I almost shed a tear. Oregon had to punt on the next series of downs but at least now they had the opportunity to pin Nebraska deep at the 2 yard line! Oh boy! I love B1G West Football! This was unironically Oregon’s most successful drive in the first 1/3 of the game.
Pinned back Collandrea made a big time mistake when we went to scramble. After a miscommunication with his receiver Ify Obidegwu was able to intercept the ball deep in Nebraska territory to give the Ducks the ball at the 13 yard line! And then the very first play Jordon Davison fumbled the ball, I hate this offence.
Oregon did allow Nebraska to pick up a first down on a designed keeper for Collandrea, but they were then able to get a stop and force another punt.
This was followed by, you guessed it, another Oregon 3 and out.
Oregon had Nebraska in 3rd and long and Teitum Tuioti barely missed getting his 2nd sack of the night, but Collandrea was able to spin out and hit a receiver for a first down, Nebraska would pick up a 2nd first down on this drive on the very next play and it felt like they won the game by accomplishing that alone. But then the Oregon defense would stiffen up once again by stuffing a couple of runs and collapsing the pocket to force another Nebraska punt. This one would be downed inside the Oregon 10 yard line meaning Oregon should have just focused on running clock to get into the half tied instead of giving another possession to Nebraska. Which is what they elected to do forcing Nebraska to burn all of their timeouts post 2 minute warning. Mission accomplished I guess?
Oregon would get Nebraska into 3rd and 23 but of course they busted a coverage. One Collandrea scramble later and a team was actually threatening to score?!? At first it appeared Nebraska hit a fade into the end-zone but on replay it appeared the receiver didn’t get a foot in bounds. The replay command center deemed that they didn’t have evidence to suggest the foot didn’t touch the ground meaning the call stands and Nebraska had the lead 7-0 going into 1/2 time.
3rd Quarter
The 2nd half the defense picked up right where the left off for the majority of the 1st half save for some miscues on the final drive by forcing yet another punt. But the Nebraska punter gave Oregon a gift by fielding the punt on a knee meaning Oregon took over in prime field position for the 2nd time on the evening. Oregon gained all of 2 yards this time but at least they didn’t turn the ball over! Gage Hurych put the ball through the uprights to give the Ducks their first points of the game and make it 7-3.
The Duck defense would force their 2nd straight 3 and out to start the 2nd half and when the offence got the ball back they could actually run the ball?!? Again, I nearly shed a tear. The Ducks 2nd drive of the 2nd half started with 4 straight successful plays and it was almost too good to be true. The Ducks would stall goal to go, but just like that it was all of a sudden a 1 point game.
Oregon’s defense continued to ball out and forced yet another 3 and out to give the Ducks the ball back with a chance to take the lead with a FG.
But just as Oregon had momentum Oregon handed it back to them with an interception on 3rd and long to give Nebraska the ball in prime field position to extend the lead even after penalties applied.
Nonetheless the Cornhuskers were able to march the ball down the field to, including converting a 3rd and 15 to punch the ball into the end-zone. That gave them a 14-6 lead with a quarter to go, which given the Oregon offence felt insurmountable.
4th Quarter
To start the 4th quarter Oregon switched QBs and went to Dylan Raiola and the first drive looked better than anything all night. Oregon was able to effectively run the ball and Raiola was able to make the simple throws to keep the ball moving down the field. Just like the week before the QB change appeared to give Oregon the jolt they needed, but the concern was it was too little too late. After getting into the red-zone Oregon couldn’t progress any further but Gage Hurych at least was able to put the ball through the uprights to cut into the lead and make it 14-9.
As they did pretty much the entire night the defense came up with a big stop forcing Nebraska to go immediately 3 and out. Somehow, someway Oregon’s offence had a chance to win this game.
Dylan Raiola’s 2nd drive was going just like the first one where Oregon was able to run the ball and he was able to make the easy throws to move the matriculate the ball down the field. Right before the 2 minute warning he thought he had the game winning touchdown to Gaitlin Bair but he couldn’t corral it setting up a pivotal 3rd and 6 after the two minute timeout. Oregon gave it to Dierre Hill and he plunged for 3 yards. 4th and 3 with the game on the line. If Oregon could convert they could keep their chances of pulling out a win alive. If they failed then it would pretty much be over.
Raiola hit the true freshmen Jalen Lott over the middle to keep the game alive. The Ducks continued to drive the ball getting it down inside the Nebraska 10 yard line and a pivotal 3rd and 3 faced Oregon. The Ducks ran a QB power sweep to bring up 4th and 1/2 a yard. The Ducks broke out the wildcat and were able to convert. They had the ball 1st and goal from the 4 yard line with a chance to win the game.
On the first play the refs initially ruled it a TD for reasons I cannot comprehend, but the 2nd play Raiola hit Jamari in the back of the end zone that immediately made me think of Mariota winning the 2013 Civil War.
Nebraska’s next drive they got near midfield but their last ditch effort to get into field goal range fell in bounds and the clock ran out giving the Ducks the win and an Iowa like theft.
