Updated 7:40 pm PT
The Wisconsin Badgers came to Autzen to take on the 6-1 Oregon Ducks. Fall weather had finally descended upon the state of Oregon, and it looked like the weather might have something
to say about the day’s game.
At the start of the game, it had been raining on and off all day, sometimes as a hard, driving rain. At kickoff, a stiff wind was gusting and it looked like the sides would be contending with a hard wind as well. What kind of impact would the weather have on today’s contest? We were about to find out.
Oregon won the toss and deferred
The Ducks started the game by doing the truly unthinkable. I’ve never seen a college or pro team start a game with an onsides kick to kickoff – until today. Oregon kicked an onsides kick and recovered the ball.
It would be all for naught, however. The Ducks were not able to get a first down, turned the ball over on downs with a sack of Dante Moore, and the Badgers began their first drive on their own 44-yard line. It was decent field position, but UW could on advance the ball for two yards before they had to punt, and Oregon began their next drive on their own 16-yard line.
The Ducks picked up a first down but stalled on their own 23-yard line and punted. Wisconsin began their second drive on their 39-yard line.
Wisconsin promptly turned the ball over on downs. On 4th-and-2, QB Hunter Simmons fumbled the snap, and even though the Badgers recovered the ball, they did not pick up two yards.
At this point, it was clear that the wind was having its way with Oregon’s desire to pass the ball. The Ducks went 3-and-out and a 48-yard punt pinned UW on their own 1-yard line.
The Badgers first run looked like a safety but was not ruled as such. Wisconsin then drove to their own 37-yard line and punted again. Oregon started on their own 18-yard line and other than a 20-yard pass to Jeremiah McClellan, could not gain yardage and punted. Wisconsin start on the 23-yard line. That’s where they started with second quarter, with no score in the first quarter.
UW had their most successful drive in the game, up to this point. Their advance was cut short by a holding call, and a punt on Oregon’s 42-yard line pushed the Ducks against their own goal line. They would have to take the ball 99 yards for a touchdown. Could they finally turn this around?
They did indeed. Oregon drove 99 yards, first by getting a throw to McClellan to get out of their own red zone, and then they finally discovered their run game. A three-yard run by Jordon Davison put Oregon on the board first, 7-0, with 1:06 left in the half.
Wisconsin returned the kickoff to start on their own 33-yard line. They would only make it to the 44 before time ran out in the half.
Wisconsin tallied 102 total yards in the half, with 90 yards on the ground and only one successful pass for 12 yards in the air. Oregon had 125 yards; 39 rushing and 86 passing. Jordan Davison was the leading rusher, with 9 attempts for 49 yards. Jeremiah McClellan caught three passes for 40 yards.
Oregon had deferred kickoff and took the ball to start the 2nd half. Three plays into the drive, Dante Moore took a forearm to the face and looked like he broke his nose. Brock Thomas came in and threw a 24-yard pass to Dakorien Moore, and two plays later Jordon Davison ran for 20 yards for Oregon’s second touchdown. Oregon 14, Wisconsin 0.
Wisconsin started the next drive on their 36-yard line and got to midfield before punting the ball, putting the Ducks on their 12-yard line. Oregon stalled at midfield, partly because the rain had picked up and was coming down hard. They punted, and UW started again deep in their own territory, on their 4-yard line.
The Badgers could get nothing going, and punted. The Ducks started at midfield on their own 46-yard line. A couple of good runs and a targeting call on the Badgers against Thomas found Oregon at the Wisconsin 10-yard line to start the 4th quarter. Oregon 14, Wisconsin 0.
The Ducks started the 4th looking like a run for a score, but instead threw a pass to a wide open, 6-5 R-So. OL Gernorris Wilson for the touchdown.
Starting at their own 22-yard line, the Badgers finally put together a long drive to get a touchdown and get on the board. Oregon 21, Wisconsin 7.
The Ducks started on their 28 and chose to eat up clock by running the ball. They sputtered in midfield and were forced to punt on 4th and 14 on Wisconsin’s 46-yard line. But the Ducks didn’t punt, they faked and passed for a touchdown. Well, if not for that pesky holding call, it would have been a touchdown. Instead, Oregon punted and UW started on their 15.
Then, Simmons threw an errant pass that became a Daylen Austin interception. Add an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Badgers, and Oregon was in the red zone on the Wisconsin 12-yard line.
With 1:56 left on the clock, the Ducks took knees to end the game. Oregon won, 21-7.
Come back as we update with final stats, and coach and player interviews!
Updated 7:40 pm PT
