University of Oregon
9-1 , 6-1
Utah
6-3 , 3-3
Ducks Clinch Pac-12 North by Beating Utes, 51-27
11/09/14 | Football
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
SALT LAKE CITY ? One of the craziest plays in recent UO football history, a 100-yard fumble return for a touchdown after a Utes receiver fumbled while crossing the goal line, sparked the fifth-ranked Ducks (No. 4 CFP) to a 51-27 victory over No. 17 Utah before 47,528 fans in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday evening. The win clinched the Pac-12 North for Oregon, putting the Ducks into the Pac-12 title game.
How it Happened: Utah scored on its first possession, with athletic quarterback Kendal Thompson directing the offense, while Oregon's only offense early on was the running of Marcus Mariota. Thompson left the game with an apparent injury, and replacement Travis Wilson threw a long pass that was poised to put the Utes up two touchdowns ? until Kaelin Clay fumbled at the end of a potential 79-yard touchdown reception, dropping the ball prematurely as he crossed the goal line. Erick Dargan picked it up, and Joe Walker eventually ended up with the ball before returning it 100 yards for the game-tying touchdown.
That 14-point swing on one play completely changed the game's momentum. Utah didn't score again until a field goal at the halftime gun, ending a run of 24 straight points for Oregon. The Ducks countered the Utes' high-pressure front seven by using quick passes to drive to touchdowns by Dwayne Stanford and Pharaoh Brown, and Aidan Schneider kicked a 39-yard field goal.
Early in the second half, the Utes converted a Mariota fumble into a field goal to get within 24-13. The Ducks matched it with Schneider's second of the night for a 27-13 advantage. Schneider answered a Utah touchdown with a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Oregon's lead was 30-20. Utah again responded to a UO field goal with a touchdown to make it 30-27, using prolific running back Devontae Booker well in the passing game. But the Ducks drove to Stanford's second scoring reception of the night for a 37-27 edge.
Who Stood Out: It was an historic night for Mariota, who became the first UO quarterback ever to pass for 9,000 yards in his career, completing 17-of-29 on the night for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford had two touchdowns for the second time in the last three games. Walker made another big play in the fourth quarter with Oregon up 37-27, stopping Booker for no gain on a screen pass that forced Utah to settle for a field-goal attempt that his the upright.
What It Means: Oregon will play in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 5 in Santa Clara, Calif. The opponent will be the winner of the Pac-12 South, at this point projected to be Arizona State. Nationally, on a night when No. 3 Auburn lost to Texas A&M, the fourth-ranked Ducks held serve on the road to also remain in the thick of the race for a College Football Playoff berth.
Odds and Ends: Mariota's first TD pass, to Stanford on a fourth-down play in the second quarter, gave him one in all 36 games of his career, matching the third-longest streak in NCAA history. ... Chris Seisay and Troy Hill were Oregon's cornerbacks for the second half. ... Tyree Robinson made the start at safety, but Dargan entered on the Utes' first drive after being slow to get up following the opening kickoff. ... Tyrell Crosby made his fourth start of the season at offensive tackle, in place of Matt Pierson, who didn't make the trip.
Up Next: The Ducks have a week off before playing their home finale against Colorado on Nov. 22. Kickoff time and TV information could be announced as late as Nov. 16.
Team Stats
ORE 0, UTAH 7
UTAH - Poole, Bubba 8 yd run (Phillips, Andy kick), 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 4:35
ORE 7, UTAH 7
ORE - Walker, Joe 100 yd fumble recovery (Schneider, A. kick)
ORE 14, UTAH 7
ORE - Stanford, D. 3 yd pass from Mariota, Marcus (Schneider, A. kick) 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:43
ORE 21, UTAH 7
ORE - Brown, Pharaoh 6 yd pass from Mariota, Marcus (Schneider, A. kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:55
ORE 24, UTAH 7
ORE - Schneider, A. 39 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 1:19
ORE 24, UTAH 10
UTAH - Phillips, Andy 32 yd field goal 12 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:58
ORE 24, UTAH 13
UTAH - Phillips, Andy 28 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 1:22
ORE 27, UTAH 13
ORE - Schneider, A. 31 yd field goal 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:23
ORE 27, UTAH 20
UTAH - Booker,Devontae 27 yd pass from Wilson, Travis (Phillips, Andy kick) 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:29
ORE 30, UTAH 20
ORE - Schneider, A. 42 yd field goal 12 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:11
ORE 30, UTAH 27
UTAH - Tonga, Westlee 13 yd pass from Wilson, Travis (Phillips, Andy kick) 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:19
ORE 37, UTAH 27
ORE - Stanford, D. 34 yd pass from Mariota, Marcus (Schneider, A. kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:19
ORE 44, UTAH 27
ORE - Mariota, Marcus 1 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:28
ORE 51, UTAH 27
ORE - Freeman, Royce 11 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 1 plays, 11 yards, TOP 0:07
