Saturday, September 22
Eugene, Ore.
5:00 PM
University of Oregon
31
vs
38
Stanford
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Ducks Shocked In Overtime, 38-31
09/22/18 | Football
Box Score Final Stats | #7 Stanford 38, #20 Oregon 31 (OT)Oregon Postgame NotesUO Season Stats (9/22/18)
Oregon was on the way to a big victory Saturday in Autzen Stadium, but Stanford rallied to win in overtime, 38-31.
EUGENE, Ore. — No. 20 Oregon suffered a disheartening defeat Saturday night, nearly turning its Pac-12 opener against No. 7 Stanford into a blowout before the Cardinal rallied back to win in overtime, 38-31.
Oregon had a chance to take a 31-7 lead late in the third quarter, but instead a scoop-and-score fumble return for the Cardinal sparked the rally to force overtime. In the extra period, Stanford scored first on a tipped pass that tight end Colby Parkinson hauled in. On Oregon's possession, Justin Herbert's potential game-tying TD pass to Brenden Schooler also was tipped, but the Cardinal grabbed that one too, for an interception to end the game.
The loss marred a remarkable performance by Herbert, who was 25-of-27 for 331 yards in regulation. He went 1-of-6 for 15 yards in the overtime period, finishing 26-of-33 for 346 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
"Unfortunately we kind of shot ourselves in the foot a couple times," Herbert said. "We did everything we could to help Stanford win the game. But we're going to stick together, and we're not gonna let it define us."
With shades of the Alamo Bowl that capped the 2015 season, Saturday's loss required a remarkable run of poor fortune. Late in the third quarter Jaylon Redd appeared to score a touchdown that put Oregon up 31-7, but he kicked the pylon while crossing the goal line and was ruled down at the 1-yard line. The Ducks fumbled on two of the next three snaps, and Stanford returned the second for a touchdown.
It was 31-21 with 4:39 to play, and Stanford quickly scored to pull within a field goal. After Stanford burned two timeouts, Herbert ran seven yards to midfield for a first down with less than 2 minutes to play. But two plays later as the Ducks looked to run out the clock, CJ Verdell was fighting for yards after contact and the ball popped loose. The Cardinal recovered, and drove to a game-tying field goal as time expired.
"We were trying to get one more first down," UO coach Mario Cristobal said. "With second-and-two, it's a play we feel good about. … First down, the game's over. You could kneel it; you're gonna have to punt the ball."
It was a jarring end to what seemed earlier in the night like a return to greatness by the Oregon football program. The Ducks forced Stanford to punt on the opening drive, then drove quickly to a 7-0 lead on a touchdown run by Tony Brooks-James. It was set up by a 53-yard reception for Dillon Mitchell, who finished with 14 receptions for 239 yards.
"He certainly proved tonight how dynamic he can be, especially when teams are playing a lot of man coverage," Cristobal said. "We've always felt he could be that guy. It was great to see him get loose like that tonight."
Herbert's lone touchdown pass of the game, to Jacob Breeland, made it 14-0 in the second quarter. Stanford got within 14-7 on a touchdown catch by J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, but Verdell scored less than two minutes later and Adam Stack kicked a field goal for a 24-7 lead just before halftime.
When the Ducks were poised to score first after the break, an epic upset of a top-10 team seemed in store. But fate had other plans, and the Ducks were left to swallow a difficult defeat.
"I think tomorrow's practice will show the true leaders of the team," sophomore defensive tackle Jordon Scott said. "The core of the team will come together. It's not gonna be easy, but by the end of the day tomorrow everybody will be focused on Cal, and this will be behind us."
Oregon had a chance to take a 31-7 lead late in the third quarter, but instead a scoop-and-score fumble return for the Cardinal sparked the rally to force overtime. In the extra period, Stanford scored first on a tipped pass that tight end Colby Parkinson hauled in. On Oregon's possession, Justin Herbert's potential game-tying TD pass to Brenden Schooler also was tipped, but the Cardinal grabbed that one too, for an interception to end the game.
The loss marred a remarkable performance by Herbert, who was 25-of-27 for 331 yards in regulation. He went 1-of-6 for 15 yards in the overtime period, finishing 26-of-33 for 346 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
"Unfortunately we kind of shot ourselves in the foot a couple times," Herbert said. "We did everything we could to help Stanford win the game. But we're going to stick together, and we're not gonna let it define us."
With shades of the Alamo Bowl that capped the 2015 season, Saturday's loss required a remarkable run of poor fortune. Late in the third quarter Jaylon Redd appeared to score a touchdown that put Oregon up 31-7, but he kicked the pylon while crossing the goal line and was ruled down at the 1-yard line. The Ducks fumbled on two of the next three snaps, and Stanford returned the second for a touchdown.
It was 31-21 with 4:39 to play, and Stanford quickly scored to pull within a field goal. After Stanford burned two timeouts, Herbert ran seven yards to midfield for a first down with less than 2 minutes to play. But two plays later as the Ducks looked to run out the clock, CJ Verdell was fighting for yards after contact and the ball popped loose. The Cardinal recovered, and drove to a game-tying field goal as time expired.
"We were trying to get one more first down," UO coach Mario Cristobal said. "With second-and-two, it's a play we feel good about. … First down, the game's over. You could kneel it; you're gonna have to punt the ball."
It was a jarring end to what seemed earlier in the night like a return to greatness by the Oregon football program. The Ducks forced Stanford to punt on the opening drive, then drove quickly to a 7-0 lead on a touchdown run by Tony Brooks-James. It was set up by a 53-yard reception for Dillon Mitchell, who finished with 14 receptions for 239 yards.
"He certainly proved tonight how dynamic he can be, especially when teams are playing a lot of man coverage," Cristobal said. "We've always felt he could be that guy. It was great to see him get loose like that tonight."
Herbert's lone touchdown pass of the game, to Jacob Breeland, made it 14-0 in the second quarter. Stanford got within 14-7 on a touchdown catch by J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, but Verdell scored less than two minutes later and Adam Stack kicked a field goal for a 24-7 lead just before halftime.
When the Ducks were poised to score first after the break, an epic upset of a top-10 team seemed in store. But fate had other plans, and the Ducks were left to swallow a difficult defeat.
"I think tomorrow's practice will show the true leaders of the team," sophomore defensive tackle Jordon Scott said. "The core of the team will come together. It's not gonna be easy, but by the end of the day tomorrow everybody will be focused on Cal, and this will be behind us."
