Bucky Irving, Bo Nix lead No. 9 Oregon to decisive victory over Washington State

In the game where Bo Nix broke the NCAA record for most starts by a quarterback and the last Pac-12 game between Washington State and Oregon, the Ducks had a strong showing and again proved why they deserve to be in the top 10.

No. 9 Oregon topped Washington State, 38-24, to improve to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in Pac-12 play.

Oregon’s ground game was relentless, and Washington State could do nothing. Jordan James surpassed 100 yards for the first time in a UO uniform, and Bucky Irving tallied over 150 total yards and three touchdowns.

First Quarter

Following a tone-setting stop, Oregon advanced the ball 48 yards to the Washington State to the Washington State 31-yard line and were left disappointed not to score after a holding call against Marcus Harper. Oregon got back the yards lost on a pass to Franklin, but Camden Lewis missed his third field goal of the season and left the scoreboard 0-0.

Cam Ward drove his offense to the Red Zone but fell flat after a false start on 3rd down. They couldn’t make up the yards needed for a new set of downs, and Janikowski put his kick through the uprights.

Oregon’s offense was kickstarted after a 46-yard pass from Bo Nix to his adopted brother, Tez Johnson. After three mediocre plays and only 6 yards gained from 1st and Goal, Oregon settled for a field goal to tie the game up with just over a minute to go in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

With the ball inside their own 30 on a crucial 3rd down, Oregon completed a 32-yard pass to Franklin to reset the downs and march into Wazzu territory. A screen to Tez Johnson left the Ducks with 10 yards to gain and nowhere near field goal range. A surprise Bo Nix pooch punt pinned the Cougs inside their own 3.

Washington State followed up by driving 97 yards to a frictionless touchdown to take the lead 10-3 on a four-yard run. Cam Ward connected with the Cougar’s leading receiver on the year, Kyle Williams, for a 47-yard pass that took them to Oregon’s 24, and Nakia Watson put the Cougs ahead easily.

Down 7, Oregon needed a statement drive–and boy did they–starting with Jordan James, who ran for 37 yards up the gut to the opponent’s 23-yard line. Three more solid runs from Oregon’s RBs got the team to the WSU 2, and a Bucky Irving run on first down tied the game up at 10-a-piece. The ground dominance for Oregon in this game has been apparent.

Oregon took over on downs after a questionable trick play on 4th by Wazzu.

With a chance to take control of the game and win the middle eight outright, Oregon launched their tone-setting drive with a 40-yard run to the WSU 15. Oregon showed no mercy on the ground, pounding the ball inside the 10. Bo Nix carried it himself to take the lead 17-10 with 44 seconds to go in the half.

Washington State drove the ball quickly via a 44-yard completion to Kyle Williams. Oregon held them to 4th on their own 16-yard line, and Janikowski put a 33-yarder through the uprights to make it a 4-point game. Kyle Williams and Lincoln Victor entered the halftime break with over 100 yards, proving hard for Oregon to slow. Oregon 17-13.

Third Quarter

Oregon started with the ball with a chance to go up two scores. After a first down for Troy Franklin, Oregon was forced to punt it to WSU.

From their own 4, Wazzu faced 3rd-and-12, and a pass to Mathers wasn’t enough for the first down.

Oregon went ahead by two scores on a 42-yard screen to Bucky Irving. Linebacker Devin Richardson for WSU appeared unaware of where the ball was, and Irving waltzed into the endzone without much trouble. The space was there, and Oregon’s offense took advantage of it. 24-13.

Autzen stadium erupted after a sack on 3rd to force 4th-and-12. A 50-yard attempt by Janikowski was just good, bringing the score to 24-16.

Washington State simply could not handle Oregon’s ground game. A sweet juke by Irving got past the first defender and opened a clear path to the endzone. 43 yards later, Oregon went up 31-16.

Fourth Quarter

Oregon generated pressure and a good run stop to force Wazzu into a crucial fourth down and seven from the 36. Ward’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Teitum Tuioti, and Oregon took over on downs in what looked to be the beginning of the end for Wazzu.

Oregon took over with the intent to get in the end zone again, and they did just that. By way of a 17-yard back-shoulder fade to Tez Johnson, the Ducks took the lead 38-16, and the game was as good as over.

Oregon struggled a little bit to get going in the first bit of the game but once they got the run game going, everything clicked. Washington State stood no chance and the Ducks exploited their weaknesses to perfection en route to a donating victory at home.