No. 6 Oregon Routs No. 16 Oregon State to Close Out Regular Season
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks have punched their ticket to the Pac-12 Championship, cruising by the No. 16 Oregon State Beavers in a 31-7 win Friday night.
Oregon played a complete game, executing on all three levels as they steamrolled over the Beavers in the final iteration of the Pac-12 rivalry. The Ducks have won eight straight home games against Oregon State and improved their all-time record to 68-49-10.
“I've said it since the beginning of the season,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “We want to be playing our best football at the end of the season, and we are right now. We've got a really good team. We went out there and competed.”
Oregon has now scored at least 30 points in 11 straight games, which is the longest streak in the nation. Heisman hopeful Bo Nix has been the captain steering this consistent Oregon offense.
Nix has thrown for over 300 yards in four straight games, throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon State.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix against the Oregon State Beavers.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
“We wanted to really dominate the game and that's what we were able to do,” Nix said. “I think it's because on all cylinders, offense, defense, special teams, we really executed at a high level and we put ourselves in great situations.”
One of those touchdowns was to Troy Franklin at the end of the first half, and it was one that made Franklin Oregon's all-time receiving touchdowns leader with 25 in his career.
Oregon Ducks wide receivers Troy Franklin (11) and Tez Johnson (15) celebrate a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
“I think I'm doing a good job at doing what I do out there,” Franklin said. “It's a pretty good feeling.”
Oregon had 48 seconds to score before the first half ended.
The Ducks marched down the field in 40 seconds, covering 78 only yards in just five plays.
Franklin’s 41-yard touchdown gave Oregon the momentum going into halftime as the Ducks entered the locker room with a 21-7 lead.
“We got a zero look and then I knew Troy would have leverage on the post and then I got around the corner and found some time and then he had a lot of space so I just threw him open and he did the rest,” Nix said of the touchdown. .
Franklin finished the game with 128 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Tez Johnson also had himself a day with his third 100-plus yard receiving performance of the season, finishing with a team-high 138 receiving yards.
Oregon Ducks running back Bucky Irving celebrates a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
Oregon’s defense held Oregon State to just 53 rushing yards--- a season-low for the the Beavers.
In last year’s loss to the Beavers, Oregon gave up 268 rushing yards and allowed Damien Martinez to run for 103 yards in three quarters.
Martinez rushed for 38 yards on 13 carries on Friday in Eugene, his lowest total of the year.
This week Oregon's defense was focused ensuring the Beavers wouldn’t run wild like they did last year.
“It felt amazing,” linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said. “We always preach that we're a different team than last year … it was just great to see all of the guys dialed in for this week being ready to stop the run. We knew they were going to be a run-heavy first offense, so the guys stepped up to the challenge and they were happy for us.”
This is the fourth time Oregon has reached 11 wins in the regular season and the first since the 2014 season.
The Ducks will continue their march for a college football playoff bid when they play the No. 4 Washington Huskies in the Pac-12 Championship game on Friday, December 1 at 5 p.m. on ABC at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
