The 3-1 (1-0) #13 Oregon Ducks welcomed the 4-0 (2-0) #21 UCLA Bruins to town for an old PAC-12 showdown in the B1G.
Oregon’s opponent came into this game as one of the most interesting but unproven teams in college football. After 3 years of wandering the wilderness the past 3 seasons new Bruin head coach Bob Chesney reinvigorated the Bruin fanbase in the summer. His team then backed up those good vibes with their strong play in September. UCLA’s 4-0 start included:
- A big rivalry win over Cal
- A absolute demolition of conference opponent Maryland across the country.
This game was seen by many as UCLA’s
first real test of the season and the Bruins opportunity to really make a statement.
While UCLA was having their best start to a season in 4 years our Oregon Ducks came into this game after what can only be described as a emotional roller coaster of a month that included.
- A surprisingly close contest against Boise State
- Oregon’s first loss under Dan Lanning as 16.5+ point favorites
- A highly emotional road victory at USC after losing their starting QB
After said highly emotional win and a bye week would the Ducks give us the truly elite performance we have been waiting for and show us why they were so highly thought of in the pre-season? Or would the roller coaster continue?
The official injury report before the game offered no surprises.
Most notably QB Dante Moore was ruled out as he continues to recover from his concussion and TBI meaning Dylan Raiola would get his first ever start as an Oregon Duck. Would he be able to continue his strong play from USC? Or would UCLA offer a stiffer test than the Trojans Swiss cheese defense?
1st Quarter
The Ducks won the toss and deferred meaning that the Oregon defense had the first opportunity to set the tone for the matchup against the vaunted Bruin rushing attack.
The very first play of the game the Bruins ran play action and got a wide open receiver deep down the field to immediately move UCLA into the red-zone. The Bruins would pick up a first down and move the ball all the way down to the 1 yard line. The Duck defense would punch back though and stuff the UCLA rushing attack twice with their backs up against the wall to force a 3rd and goal from the 3 yard line.
On 3rd and Goal the Bruins rolled Nico Iamaleava out to the right but he missed an open running back in the end-zone who couldn’t corral the pass for the touchdown. UCLA would elect to settle for 3 to take the early lead 3-0 lead, but after a disastrous first play a good response by the Duck defense.
The first possession for the Ducks started out promising with quick passes to Dakorien Moore and Jalen Lott to move the ball to around mid-field, but on 3rd and 3 the Ducks attempted to run the ball to set-up 4th and short and the offensive line got completely obliterated forcing the Ducks to punt.
Bailey Ettridge was able to get off a clean punt that the Bruins fielded at the 10 yard line meaning at the very least the Ducks pinned UCLA back for their 2nd drive of the game which would prove to be very beneficial.
The very first play Nico was hurried by Nasir Wyatt and Iamaleava simply just dropped the ball when he went to throw?!? It resulted in a fumble the Ducks recovered at the 1 yard line.
Jordon Davison would punch the ball in the very next play to give the Ducks a 6-3 lead thanks to the Defense. Oregon elected for a swinging gate play on the conversion that UCLA was ready for keeping the game 6-3.
The next UCLA drive the Ducks stopped the run twice to set up a 3rd and 3 for UCLA. The defensive line was then able to get a hand up to bat the pass at the line of scrimmage and force a 3 and out and give the ball back to the Ducks offence at the 34 yard line. The Ducks could not get anything going though as Raiola threw 3 straight incompletions, meaning the Ducks would need to immediately punt the ball back.
Excluding the 1 yard punch in, 5 of Oregon’s first 6 offensive plays were all pass plays and quick hitters. I think the staff is abundantly aware of what is going on up front and early on they were very much trying to call the game around that.
UCLA was able to pick up 2 first downs, 1 via an undisciplined A’Mauri Washington penalty, but the defense would stiffen around midfield and force the Bruins to punt it back to Oregon.
The Ducks would pick up one first down up via penalty but then also couldn’t get anything going either on the ground or through the air and would have to punt it yet again.
Luckily for the Ducks that gave them the opportunity to give the ball to their best player touching the football in the 1st quarter, that would be punter Bailey Ettrdige. Ettridge would lace a perfect punt out of bounds at the 2 yard line forcing UCLA to start very deep in their own territory.
2nd Quarter
The Duck defense would stand up strong yet again forcing another punt, but this time deep in Bruin territory, giving the Ducks great field position at the UCLA 41 after a nifty Evan Stewart punt return.
Given how strong both defenses were playing this would be a golden opportunity for the Ducks they could not miss and needed to cash in for points.
Sensing the opportunity Merhinger dialed up an outside run and then a Jordon Davison wildcat fake pitch outside run to get the Ducks into the redzone. But just as the Ducks gained momentum they gave it right back to UCLA. Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill botched an exchange in wildcat that UCLA would jump on. Opportunity wasted. The Oregon defense would stand up strong once again and force yet another 3 and out to continue their very strong play after the first play of the game.
Evan Stewart would provide another strong 2nd punt return to give the Duck offence a mulligan and a chance with a 2nd short field to extend the lead. The Duck offence would continue to do absolutely nothing. Run game stale-mated, pressure getting through with less than 4 rushers. All things ATQ has been preaching about for a month now. On 3rd and short the pressure got through and forced Raiola to fumble the ball.
UCLA, a team that is dependent on turnovers to set up their offence, cashed in on a long run from Wayne Knight to re-take the lead 10-6 Bruins.
The Ducks offence would continue to do nothing giving the ball immediately back to UCLA after another 3 and out. UCLA with all the momentum was starting to feel confident and was able to string together a couple of big plays to quickly move the ball back into the Ducks redzone. Despite getting no help from their offence the Duck defense would hold strong in the red-zone to force a Bruin field goal attempt. The special teams would then get in on the action by blocking the field goal to keep the game 10-6 and give some momentum back to the Ducks.
The offence would then do nothing with said momentum going 3 and out yet again and giving the ball back to UCLA with all of their timeouts left and plenty of time to add some more points before half-time.
Matayo would get things started strong for the defense, whipping the UCLA RT and getting a sack. Lanning elected to use a timeout which I thought was confusing given how poor the offence played in the 1st half. The very next play Iamaleava would pick up the first down on a deep pass down field, but then the pass after that Jerry Mixon would pick off the UCLA QB to snuff out the drive.
The next Oregon drive the Ducks would not go 3 and out, because instead Dylan Raiola would throw an absolute meatball to the UCLA defensive back which they would pick off to give their offence great field position once again.
As bad as this offensive line has been, and was playing, Raiola was making matters worse by absolutely floating everything all day.
The next UCLA drive the Bruins were able hit a big pass but then on a scramble Nico Iamaleava got twisted up awkwardly. Luckily he wasn’t seriosuly hurt and 2 plays later he came back into the game to throw an interception right back to the Ducks leaving UCLA empty handed for a 2nd time they got into Oregon territory.
After a half of football that was so gross I wish I could Men In Black Erase it from my mind Oregon trailed UCLA 10-6. After USC Washington the week before, maybe these west coast teams are just fully embracing their place in the B1G.
Just like the Oklahoma State game Oregon was probably fortunate to only be down by 4 given how putrid their offense had been. The Ducks picked up exactly two first downs on their own and only 1 other first down via penalty.
Net YPP: -3.95 YPP
Net Efficiency Rate: -18% Oregon
Net Explosiveness Rate: -7% Oregon
For how bad the offence was in the first half at least the Defense was playing very strong to keep them in the game winning on over 60% of plays.
3rd Quarter
Oregon got the ball to start the 2nd half and the question everyone was asking was, could they get a first down. The answer??? Of course not, what are you crazy?!?
3 and out to start the 2nd half.
UCLA would pick up a first down on a flea flicker, but the Duck defense would continue to fight, scratch, and claw stopping the run and then blowing up the 2nd trick play of the drive to force 3rd and long. Matayo would get his 2nd sack of the game to really back the Bruins up and force them to punt. And it was at this moment while watching/writing I got a little sad because I knew the next 3 minutes of my life I would have to watch commercials and the Oregon offence.
To my utter shock the Duck offence picked up a first down on back to back successful run plays. My eyes could not believe what they were seeing, I was sure I would see Big Foot before ever seeing that again in my life.
2 plays later Evan Stewart fumbled the ball giving it back to UCLA. What I did appreciate it about this game is it gave me a glimpse into what it was like watching the Ducks before 1994. What I didn’t appreciate was the migraine it was giving me.
Anyways the next drive UCLA drove it all the way down inside the 5 yard line. Chesney elected to go for it this time and the Ducks defense came up heroic once again getting a massive stop on a run on 4th and 2. I don’t know if there has ever been a game where I have been more happy with the Duck defense while simultaneously furious with the Offence.
Adding to my frustration was on the next drive Raiola arm punting yet another ball to the UCLA secondary that got picked off leading me to genuinely believe Brock Thomas should take the snaps on the next drive. Declare for the draft now Dante, your stock might never be higher.
UCLA scored on the next possession to go up 17-6. A full quarter to play but this game felt over and I was honestly counting down the seconds until I wouldn’t have to watch it anymore, probably right ahead of 70-21 for the low point for me as a Ducks fan. At least in 2016 Oregon wasn’t supposed to be good, this season is just embarrassing.
Brock Thomas came in for the next drive, just as I suspected, which really just makes that USC game all the more hilarious. Oregon was actually running the ball more effectively in the 2nd half. Just as they went to Crader at LT and Wilson at RT, geez what an Idea no one has ever thought of. Just as Oregon had a glimmer of hope, Brock Thomas fumbled the snap on 4th and 1 giving the ball back to UCLA
Oregon would force a 3 and out to somehow keep them in the game with 8 and half minutes to go, which honestly was just insulting because it meant I still had to keep watching this game for an extended period of time when I just wanted it to be over.
The Ducks were going to go 3 and out but UCLA bailed them out by committing a facemask penalty. The very next play the Bruins busted a coverage and Brock Thomas hit Dakorien Moore for a big play, tacked onto the end of it a roughing the passer and the Ducks had the ball 1st and goal at the 10 yard line. UCLA would hold the Ducks out of the end zone, but through some grace of god I do not understand it was 1 possession game. 16-9 UCLA.
My only explanation is that Oregon Football is a social experiment meant to test how much pain and stress a person can experience from the comfort of their own couch.
The next UCLA drive was backed up due to a penalty on the kick-off and after a false start Oregon was able to set-up a 3rd and 4 play. The UCLA QB air mailed the short throw with his receiver not even looking meaning Brock Thomas was about to get the ball back with over 3 minutes and two timeouts for a chance to tie the game with a TD and 2 point conversion. I had absolutely zero faith Oregon could score a TD, but if they could some weird shit must be going on in the cosmos.
The Cosmos delivered with Brock Thomas getting some quick passes off and then hitting Evan Stewart over the middle. Stewart broke some tackles and ran it all the way to the endzone to make it 17-15.
I could not believe what I was watching. Oregon was a 2 point try away from trying the game. Even after a UCLA penalty on the first attempt Oregon couldn’t run it into the end-zone for the try meaning UCLA still had the lead.
With the 2 minute timeout and 2 timeouts still remaining though Oregon still had a chance. They would need to prevent UCLA from getting a first down. Wayne Knight got 9 yards on 1st down meaning UCLA was 2 yards away from picking up a first down and the win. Oregon jumped offside on 2nd and 1, but that actually might have been better because they conceded the first down but kept their two timeouts. UCLA ran the ball 3 times to pick up 8 yards but the Ducks were able to hold them meaning Brock Thomas would get the ball with a chance to win the game.
The UCLA punt put the ball at the Oregon 5 yard line with no timeouts and 48 seconds to go. Thomas hit Messiah Hampton 3 times along the sideline to pick up the first first down, but it took a lot of time. He then hit Dakorien Moore to get the ball near midfield, but that is where the Ducks miraculous rally would come to an end.
My biggest positive takeaway is that sunlight is the world’s greatest disinfectant. There are problems with this Oregon team and this game put them on full display for the world to see. The issues can’t be hidden from and must be addressed.
With this going down as the most disappointing season in Oregon history, given the preseason expectations, clear changes to the staff need to be made. A miraculous comeback for an unearned win would only distract from those issues, but they are clear as day now.
