The Cougs entered Autzen stadium looking for the upset win,
but their plans were foiled as the game came to an end with a winning field
from 26 yards out by Camden Lewis to give the Ducks the 37-35 win. Anthony Gordon threw for 406 yards on 32-50 passing
with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
The Ducks coming into this game had lost four straight games to the Cougs and were bringing one of the top defenses in the league, so the Cougs offense was going to have to figure out how to move the ball. On their first possession of the game, the Cougs marched down the field. On 3rd down and goal from the Duck 19, Gordon’s pass to Rodrick Fisher was dropped in the end-zone and the Cougs settled for the Blake Mazza Field goal from 36 yards out to give them the early 3-0 lead. The Ducks equalized the score on their next drive with a 40 yard field goal from Camden Lewis. On the first play of the Duck’s next possession, CJ Verdell beat the entire Cougars defense for an 89 yard touchdown run. “I’m not sure what happened, we’ll have to look at the film,” Cougar safety Tyrese Ross said following the game. This marks the third game this season that the Cougs have given up an 85 yard or more touchdown play.
Max Borghi got the Cougs in the end zone midway through the
2nd with a 1 yard run to give the Cougs the lead back at 10-9. On the next WSU possession, a 3rd
and 25 turned into a pick-six for the Ducks as Jevon Holland took it in from 19
yards out to give the Ducks a 17-10 lead with 2 minutes remaining in the first
half. The Cougars thrive in pressure
situations and a two minute drive at the end of the half was no exception. Gordon needed just 47 seconds to find Renard
Bell from 15 yards out to tie the score at 17 going into the locker room.
Oregon
got to work early in the 2nd half and CJ Verdell touched the ball 7
of 8 plays including a 16 yard touchdown screen pass to put the Ducks back on
top 24-17. Verdell added another
touchdown run early in the 4th quarter to put the Ducks up 31-20.
Anthony Gordon then went to work from his own 11-yard line. He led a 7 play, 89 yard drive in 2:19 ending
in a 19-yard Brandon Arconado touchdown pass followed by a successful 2-point
conversion to Arcanado to pull the Cougs within 3 points. Oregon was able to tack on a Lewis 30-yard
field goal to make the score 34-28. The
Cougs had one last chance to take the lead with 2:55 remaining in the
game. Gordon used a defensive pass
interference and a 48 yard strike to Tae Martin to bring the Cougs into the Red
Zone. WSU was able to get it down to the
5-yard line and on 4th and 3, Gordon connected with Arcanado on a
slant for the touchdown to give the Cougs a 35-34 lead with a minute to play in
the game.
Unfortunately for the Cougs, this was more than
enough time for Herbert to march down to the WSU 8-yard line and kick a game
winning field goal to break the hearts of Cougar Nation. “This was the best game we played this
season,” coach Mike Leach said following the game. The Cougs have a bye this coming week before
going to Berkeley to face the good defense of the Cal Golden Bears. The Cougs follow that up with two home games
versus lowly Stanford and Oregon State which will make them bowl eligible. The Cougs sit at 4-4, but with a favorable
schedule down the stretch still have a chance of finishing 8-4.
