University of Oregon
13-2
Ohio State
14-1
Buckeyes Block Ducks' Path To Title
01/13/15 | Football
Editor, GoDucks.com
ARLINGTON, Texas — Oregon's second trip to the national championship game in five years ended in similarly frustrating fashion, as the Ducks fell to Ohio State 42-20 in the inaugural College Football Playoff final before 85,689 on Monday at AT&T Stadium.
How It Happened: The Ducks set the tone early, blazing to an 11-play touchdown drive after receiving the opening kick, then forcing a punt. But the Buckeyes scored the next 21 points — despite two turnovers — and while Oregon forced two more turnovers in the third quarter, they yielded just 10 points. Ohio State, meanwhile, leaned on the powerful running of quarterback Cardale Jones and running back Ezekiel Elliott to grind out the win.
Oregon fell into an early hole despite taking the 7-0 lead, dropping third-down passes on its next two possessions. Elliott and Jones each ran for touchdowns before the Ducks scored again, and Jones also threw for a TD in just his third career start. Oregon hit a field goal just before halftime, and trailed 21-10 at the break.
In the second half, Oregon finally turned a turnover into points, on a quick-strike reception of 70 yards by Byron Marshall from Marcus Mariota. Schneider added another field goal off a Danny Mattingly interception to get the Ducks within 21-20, but Elliott answered with another scoring run and the Buckeyes forced a quick three-and-out. Elliott tacked on his third rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter and another in the final minute.
Who Stood Out: Mariota was outstanding as usual in possibly his last UO appearance, completing 24-of-37 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall caught eight passes for 169 yards, becoming the first player in school history with 1,000 yards rushing in a single season — last fall — and also 1,000 yards receiving in one year. Defensively, Reggie Daniels and Arik Armstead led the Ducks with nine tackles.
What It Means: Oregon won a school-record 13 games to go along with two losses in the 2014 season, claiming Pac-12 Conference and Rose Bowl titles. The College Football Playoff National Championship was the final game for a sterling group of UO seniors including Hroniss Grasu, Keanon Lowe, Tony Washington, Derrick Malone Jr., Troy Hill and Erick Dargan.
Odds and Ends: Former UO coach Chip Kelly was in attendance for the game. … Receiver Bralon Addison was in sweats throughout, after warming up for the Rose Bowl in uniform. Addison thus officially sat out the 2014 season as a redshirt, and will be a junior again in 2015. … Eight players started all 15 games this season: Mariota, Hamani Stevens, Alex Balducci, DeForest Buckner, Tony Washington, Rodney Hardrick, Tyson Coleman and Daniels. … Stetzon Bair, whose wife was expecting the couple's first child this weekend, was in uniform Monday night.
Up Next: The Ducks open the 2015 regular season Sept. 5 in Autzen Stadium against Eastern Washington.
Team Stats
OHSU 0, ORE 7
ORE - Lowe, Keanon 7 yd pass from Mariota, Marcus (Schneider, A. kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:39
OHSU 7, ORE 7
OHSU - Elliott, E 33 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 10 plays, 97 yards, TOP 3:16
OHSU 14, ORE 7
OHSU - Vannett, Nick 1 yd pass from Jones, Cardale (Nuernberger, S kick) 4 plays, 46 yards, TOP 1:27
OHSU 21, ORE 7
OHSU - Jones, Cardale 1 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 6 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:16
OHSU 21, ORE 10
ORE - Schneider, A. 26 yd field goal 12 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:01
OHSU 21, ORE 17
ORE - Marshall, Byron 70 yd pass from Mariota, Marcus (Schneider, A. kick) 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:10
OHSU 21, ORE 20
ORE - Schneider, A. 23 yd field goal 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:42
OHSU 28, ORE 20
OHSU - Elliott, E 9 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:39
OHSU 35, ORE 20
OHSU - Elliott, E 2 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 9 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:13
OHSU 42, ORE 20
OHSU - Elliott, E 1 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 5 plays, 14 yards, TOP 2:17
