Saturday, October 3
Boulder, Colo.
9:00 PM
University of Oregon
41
at
24
Colorado
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Rebound, Beat Buffs
10/04/15 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
BOULDER, Colo. — Behind a dominant ground game, Oregon rebounded from its historic loss to Utah and pulled away from a halftime tie Saturday to beat Colorado, 41-24, before 46,222 at Folsom Field.
How It Happened: The Ducks (3-2) compensated for continuing issues at quarterback by leaning on a powerful rushing attack that featured both Royce Freeman and Taj Griffin. With Vernon Adams Jr. sitting out for the second time in three games, Oregon rotated Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie at quarterback. Neither found much success through the air, but the Ducks wore down the Buffaloes (3-2) on the ground.
With Colorado's Sefo Liufau playing through a shoulder injury, the Buffs struggled in the pass game as well. The teams traded interceptions early in the first half, before Freeman gave Oregon a 7-0 lead with a 29-yard touchdown run. Colorado scored on its next three possessions, thanks to some explosion plays that continued to haunt the UO defense. Oregon tied the score 14-14 when Bralon Addison took the ball on a reverse and hit Charles Nelson for a 39-yard touchdown, and the teams traded field goals for a 17-17 tie at halftime.
The tide turned in the third quarter. After the UO defense forced a three-and-out, the Ducks drove 74 yards for the go-ahead touchdown by Freeman, with all but seven yards on the drive coming on the ground. After Rodney Hardrick forced a fumble on Colorado's next drive, the Ducks drove 54 yards and scored on a Griffin touchdown run, with all 54 yards coming via the rush. Oregon took a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter, when Colorado scored first but Alie hit Jalen Brown for a 43-yard touchdown to make it 38-24.
Who Stood Out: Freeman and Griffin became the first tandem of UO running backs in three years to each exceed 100 yards. Freeman finished with 163, and Griffin carried 11 times for 110. Credit is due the UO offensive line, primarily composed of Tyler Johnstone, Matt Pierson, Matt Hegarty, Cameron Hunt and Tyrell Crosby. Defensively, the Ducks tallied a season-high five sacks among seven tackles for loss, limiting CU to 308 yards of total offense and an average of 3.9 yards per play. Rodney Hardrick led the way with eight tackles - two for loss, including a sack - and forced a fumble.
What It Means: The Ducks continue to work through issues on both sides of the ball, but did so in a victory that should infuse the team with some confidence going forward.
Notable: Kickoff was delayed nearly an hour by lightning in the area. ... Cornerback Arrion Springs and safety Reggie Daniels returned to the starting lineup, after coming off the bench last week. … Oregon entered the evening with a five-game win streak over the Buffaloes, who were on an 11-game losing streak in conference play. … Oregon avoided losing back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2007. … Both teams' helmets bore a sticker memorializing the victims of the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. In addition, Colorado held a moment of silence prior to the national anthem in honor of those affected.
Up Next: The Ducks return home to face Washington State next Saturday (3 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
Editor, GoDucks.com
BOULDER, Colo. — Behind a dominant ground game, Oregon rebounded from its historic loss to Utah and pulled away from a halftime tie Saturday to beat Colorado, 41-24, before 46,222 at Folsom Field.
How It Happened: The Ducks (3-2) compensated for continuing issues at quarterback by leaning on a powerful rushing attack that featured both Royce Freeman and Taj Griffin. With Vernon Adams Jr. sitting out for the second time in three games, Oregon rotated Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie at quarterback. Neither found much success through the air, but the Ducks wore down the Buffaloes (3-2) on the ground.
With Colorado's Sefo Liufau playing through a shoulder injury, the Buffs struggled in the pass game as well. The teams traded interceptions early in the first half, before Freeman gave Oregon a 7-0 lead with a 29-yard touchdown run. Colorado scored on its next three possessions, thanks to some explosion plays that continued to haunt the UO defense. Oregon tied the score 14-14 when Bralon Addison took the ball on a reverse and hit Charles Nelson for a 39-yard touchdown, and the teams traded field goals for a 17-17 tie at halftime.
The tide turned in the third quarter. After the UO defense forced a three-and-out, the Ducks drove 74 yards for the go-ahead touchdown by Freeman, with all but seven yards on the drive coming on the ground. After Rodney Hardrick forced a fumble on Colorado's next drive, the Ducks drove 54 yards and scored on a Griffin touchdown run, with all 54 yards coming via the rush. Oregon took a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter, when Colorado scored first but Alie hit Jalen Brown for a 43-yard touchdown to make it 38-24.
Who Stood Out: Freeman and Griffin became the first tandem of UO running backs in three years to each exceed 100 yards. Freeman finished with 163, and Griffin carried 11 times for 110. Credit is due the UO offensive line, primarily composed of Tyler Johnstone, Matt Pierson, Matt Hegarty, Cameron Hunt and Tyrell Crosby. Defensively, the Ducks tallied a season-high five sacks among seven tackles for loss, limiting CU to 308 yards of total offense and an average of 3.9 yards per play. Rodney Hardrick led the way with eight tackles - two for loss, including a sack - and forced a fumble.
What It Means: The Ducks continue to work through issues on both sides of the ball, but did so in a victory that should infuse the team with some confidence going forward.
Notable: Kickoff was delayed nearly an hour by lightning in the area. ... Cornerback Arrion Springs and safety Reggie Daniels returned to the starting lineup, after coming off the bench last week. … Oregon entered the evening with a five-game win streak over the Buffaloes, who were on an 11-game losing streak in conference play. … Oregon avoided losing back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2007. … Both teams' helmets bore a sticker memorializing the victims of the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. In addition, Colorado held a moment of silence prior to the national anthem in honor of those affected.
Up Next: The Ducks return home to face Washington State next Saturday (3 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
