If you missed the NBC telecast of this game, you were quite fortunate. NBC spent 22 minutes wallowing in Penn State white, and one would have thought that the Nittany Lions were The Most Awesome College
Football Team In The History Of The Universe.
PSU won the coin toss and elected to receive in the second half. The kickoff resulted in a touchback and put the ball on the 25. The Ducks drove to midfield on their first drive, but a successful 4th down conversion was negated by a false start penalty, and Oregon punted.
Penn State started on their 15-yard line. The Nittany Lions went three-and-out on their first drive, and the punt put the Ducks on their own 32-yard line to start their second drive.
Oregon drove and Dante Moore was able to convert a 4th-and-1 and a 3rd-and two into first downs. Moore could not get enough yards to convert the next 4th down attempt, and the Ducks turned the ball over on downs at the PSU 38-yard line.
PSU drove to midfield and converted on 4th and one. The Lions advanced to the Oregon 49 and the first quarter ended, 0-0.
PSU only made it as far as the Oregon 32-yard line, but kicked a 49-yard field goal to get on the board first. PSU 3, Oregon 0.
The Ducks were able to convert on 4th-and two at the PSU 43, but faced with another 4th down at the PSU 29, they elected to attempt a field goal, and the 47-yard attempt was no good.
At this point, PSU’s offense appeared to be as hapless as Oregon’s. They went 3-and-out and punted, and the Ducks started on their own 25-yard line.
Oregon put together their best drive of the first half, but stalled on the PSU 24-yard line. The Ducks attempted a field goal, and Atticus Sappington’s 42-yard kick was good. Oregon 3, PSU 3.
The Lions went pass-heavy to try and move the ball into scoring position, and failed. Having stalled at midfield, PSU punted, and Oregon started their 2-minute offense from their own 10-yard line. 1:06 to the half was not enough time for the Ducks to get into PSU territory, and the half ended with the score tied 3-3.
Both offenses struggled, and it showed at the half. Oregon had 77 yards rushing of the 189 total yards they had at halftime. PSU only had 69 total yards. Dante Moore was 15-22 for 112 yards, with the vast majority being very short passes. Drew Allar threw 6-12 for 45 yards. Oregon’s leading rusher was Dierre Hill Jr., who ran 29 yards on three attempts. Neither team was able to establish any kind of running game.
Defenses dictated the first half. Would that continue into the second half?
PSU started the second half playing more uptempo. That worked up to midfield, but the Lions ran out of juice at the Oregon 36 and punted for a touchback.
Oregon started a great drive all the way down the field, highlighted by a 24-yard pass from Dante Moore to Kenyon Sadiq. It appeared to be for naught when Noah Whittington fumbled and PSU recovered, but he was ruled already down, and Moore passed to Dierre Hill Jr. on the next play for a Ducks TD. Oregon 10, PSU 3.
The Lions started again on their 25 after a touchback. They promptly went 3-and-out, and punted.
The Ducks discovered a bit of their run game and advanced to midfield to end the 3rd quarter. Oregon 10, PSU 3.
After a horrible spot on a Dante Moore run that set up 4th and one at the PSU 8-yard line, Jordon Davison ran the ball in, standing up, for Oregon’s next touchdown. Oregon 17, PSU 3.
After the touchback, Penn State began to show some urgency, and at the Oregon 47, PSU scorched the Ducks with a TD pass. Oregon 17, PSU 10.
The Ducks started on their own 25-yard line on their next drive, which was killed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that put Oregon in a 3rd-and-21 situation, and of course they would have to punt.
PSU started their next drive with decent field position at their 38-yard line. The Lions drove and converted on two 4th down attempts. Momentum was on their side and they wouldn’t be stopped en route to a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the game, assuring us of overtime play. Oregon 17, PSU 17.
Oregon ran four plays with no change in the score; and indeed, we went to overtime.
Oregon won the toss and chose to go on defense to start OT. After a nominal gain, PSU ran for 16 yards to the Oregon 4 and followed it up with a touchdown. PSU 24, Oregon 17.
After getting a first down, Oregon almost screwed up with a fumbled handoff, but Moore fell on the ball to save the possession. An obvious targeting on PSU was not called, bringing 4th and 1. Moore kept the ball for the 1st down, keeping Oregon alive. Dante Moore then executed a perfect shovel pass to Jamari Johnson for the Ducks touchdown. Oregon 24, PSU 24.
Penn State won the 2nd OT toss and went on defense. Oregon immediately threw for a TD. They attempted a two-point conversion, but the ball was intercepted. Oregon 30, PSU 24.
Penn State then had the ball, but Drew Allar threw an interception to Dillon Thieneman, and just like that the game ended with an Oregon victory, 30-24.
Come back as we update with final game statistics and interviews!
Updated 8:18 pm PT
