The one loss to Washington in Week-7 aside, in their seven wins coming into this game the Ducks had beaten everyone else by an average of 34+ points—make that 35+ over eight games after blowing out Cal at home this past Saturday 63-19. In a very strange start to the game Oregon’s QB Bo Nix, who was last week’s PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Week, threw up a ball that was intercepted at the Oregon’s own 38 yard line on the very first play of the game. Cal, unable to move the ball more than 14 yards in seven plays, attempted a field goal from the 24 yard line that was blocked by Oregon. However, the Ducks were ruled off sides as well as committing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty putting Cal on the 9 yard line—1st and goal. The next play reminded me of the Gatorade commercials back in the early 1990’s starring Michael Jordan that had the tag line,”Be Like Mike,” as Cal’s QB Fernando Mendoza’s first pass from scrimmage was also intercepted. Oregon took that one 86 yards in 11 plays that ended with a Bo Nix 48 yard TD pass to Tez Johnson to go up 7-0 halfway through the 1st Qtr. Two possessions later and sitting 3rd and 3 at his own 22 yard line Mendoza was sacked and in the process lost 12 yards and fumbled the ball back to the Ducks on the 1 yard line. One play later Bo Nix ran it into the end zone for his 2nd TD of the day to go up 14-0. After a few moments of calm, during which Cal drove down field and connected on a 43 yard field goal, the craziness would continue as Oregon would fumble the ball at their own 25 yard line on their first play after the kick—a fumble that was picked up and returned for a TD making it a 14-10 game with less than two minutes left in the 1st Qtr.
Although Cal would get within a point after another field goal early in the 2nd Qtr they would only score six more points the rest of the entire game while the Ducks would put up 21 points in the 2nd Qtr, 7 in the 3rd, and another 21 in the 4th. Nix would end up connecting on over 75% of his passes for 386 yards, 4 TD’s and 1 interception as well as rushing five times for another two scores, giving him six on the day. Twelve of those passes, including 2 TD’s, were collected by Tez Johnson who connected with Nix for 180 yards total with six other receivers, including two for TD’s, on the end of multiple catches. Late in the game backup QB Ty Thompson came in and also connected for 75% of his passes including a TD pass to Junior WR Traeshon Holden. All toll Oregon threw for 444 yards, 5 TD’s, with just 1 pick. On the ground Junior RB Bucky Irving and Sophomore Jordan James combined for two TD’s and 133 of the Duck’s 153 rushing yards. For Cal, Freshman QB Fernando Mendoza connected on 18-of-34 for 177 yards, no TD’s, and 1 interception while Sophomore RB Jaydn Ott—the PAC-12’s leading rusher—carried the mail on the ground while rushing 20 times for 93 of their 109 yard total and their only rushing TD.
Both teams will be at home this next Saturday with Cal hosting a floundering Washington State Cougar squad and Oregon taking on a group of extremely disappointed USC Trojans whose Defensive Coordinator was fired after last Saturday’s loss to Washington. If USC can put aside what might have been and move forward this game could be a real fireworks show as it will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the country along with two of the top 5 running backs in the conference in Bucky Irving for Oregon and MarShawn Lloyd for USC, as well as two of the top 5 receivers in Troy Franklin for Oregon and Tahj Washington for USC.