Over the past several years, Washington State’s run-and-shoot offense has created nightmares for opponents late in the season. But after losing former head coach Nick Rolovich and four assistant coaches last month, the Cougs (5-5) have been playing with an especially large chip on their shoulder.
For some reason, the Ducks (9-1) have struggled in recent years to bottle up the Cougs’ offense, although much less so since Mike Leach sailed his pirate sloop out of the Palouse. Many Oregon fans expected another tough night when Wazzu came to town hoping to knock off the No. 3 Oregon Ducks on Saturday night in Eugene.
But the Ducks shut that old narrative down and told a very different story, dialing up defensive pressure and cranking up the power-run game to cruise past the Cougars, 38-24. The Ducks’ run attack proved too hot to handle, racking up 307 total rushing yards. On the other side of the ball, Oregon’s defensive front disrupted WSU’s offense all night long.
Wazzu quarterback Jayden de Laura posted some impressive first half numbers, completing 14 of 19 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. However, de Laura also manufactured a couple of first half turnovers, including losing the football at the goal line on the Cougs’ opening drive, that helped give Oregon a head of steam and take a 14-0 lead early in the game. (NOTE: Brown also lost a fumble at the goal line trying to punch the ball into the end zone.)
Kayvon Thibodeaux and the defense disrupted the timing of the WSU offense impressively.
Despite Oregon’s defensive front putting some heavy pressure on de Laura, the Cougars found a way to compile successful drives in the first half, tying the game 14-14 before halftime. And while Brown’s first-half passing statistics (Brown went 9-of-12 passing with a touchdown by halftime) weren’t as dynamic as de Laura’s early aerial display, the sixth year senior more than made up for it on his feet in the second half.
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It’s no secret that Oregon lives and “Dyes” by the running game. Since CJ Verdell’s season-ending injury, Oregon running back Travis Dye has been on a hot streak, running like his hair is on fire. But it was Brown, not Dye, who posed the biggest problem for Wazzu on the ground.
Freshman Byron Cardwell stuns the Cougars with two touchdowns.
The Ducks’ PROLIFIC performance on the ground was led by Brown, who finished with 17 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. (Brown nearly ran the ball for more yards than he threw!) Dye had 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, and grabbed six catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Byron Cardwell also finished the game with nine carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns. All of this requires a HUGE shoutout to Oregon’s offensive line, which parted the seas for the Ducks’ backfield all night long.
Oregon’s defense got stronger as the game went on, completely disrupting deLaura’s passing rhythm and holding WSU to a paltry 52 yards rushing. In the fourth quarter, de Laura looked like a panicked squirrel on a highway, frequently flushed out of a collapsing pocket by Kayvon Thibodeaux (two sacks, two tackles for loss) and freshman Jayson Jones (one sack, one tackle for loss). The sophomore play caller was forced to make difficult throws, which ultimately led to two interceptions.
Oregon continues to hold up its end of the bargain by winning conference games against tough teams down the stretch. Full steam ahead to Salt Lake City!
Jordan Ingram
San Diego, California
Top Photo from Craig Strobeck
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Jordan is a lifelong Duck fan currently living in San Diego. Jordan graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, after serving a prestigious fellowship with the Washington State House of Representatives. Upon graduation, he worked as an English language teaching assistant for the Spanish Ministry of Education’s Ambassadorial Program in Monforte de Lemos, Spain. Jordan has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and California, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, local politics, and crime. He is VERY excited to be writing about his beloved Oregon Ducks.
