University of Oregon
5-3 , 3-2
Arizona State
4-4 , 2-3
Ducks Win Triple-Overtime Thriller In Desert, 61-55
10/30/15 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
TEMPE, Ariz. — Oregon capped a wild night by making big plays when it counted to beat Arizona State 61-55 in triple overtime on Thursday night in Sun Devil Stadium.
How It Happened: Bralon Addison hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the third overtime, and Arrion Springs intercepted a pass on the final play to clinch the win for the Ducks (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12). Oregon and ASU traded touchdowns and extra points in each of the first two overtimes, but the Ducks pulled it out in the third to avoid their second overtime loss of the season.
Overtime only was possible thanks to a play for the ages late in regulation. The Ducks were facing fourth-and-the-game from the 8-yard line when Vernon Adams Jr. backpedaled under pressure, scrambled around and threw to the back of the end zone, where Dwayne Stanford hauled in the game-tying touchdown pass. The call was confirmed by video review, and the game went to overtime.
Early on, overtime never seemed like it would be necessary. Oregon jumped out to a 10-0 lead while keeping ASU off the scoreboard, but began to stall on offense just as Arizona State got rolling. Beginning in the second quarter, the Sun Devils scored on seven of nine possessions, with one ending in a missed field goal. The Ducks managed a couple of big plays in the third quarter — a 100-yard Charles Nelson kick return and 62-yard Kani Benoit run — to briefly regain the lead 34-31, but ASU reclaimed momentum.
Oregon's boom-or-bust night offensively began with a 64-yard touchdown run by Royce Freeman for a 10-0 lead, helped by two missed field goals by Arizona State. A 39-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Darren Carrington made it 17-7, which ASU answered with 17 straight points for a 24-17 lead.
It was 31-20 when Nelson's kick return and Benoit's long run gave the Ducks their 34-31 lead. Arizona State's next possession appeared to end on a Reggie Daniels interception in the end zone, but the call was reversed by replay and ASU tied the game with a field goal. The Sun Devils added a touchdown on their next possession, and though the play clock was clearly at zero when the ball was snapped, officials didn't notice. It was 41-34 at that point, setting the stage for the fourth-down dramatics from Adams and Stanford late in regulation.
Who Stood Out: Adams finished 23-of-40 for 315 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception on a tipped ball. Freeman ended the night with 15 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and Stanford added a touchdown in overtime to go with his TD late in regulation. Arizona State ran nearly twice as many plays as the Ducks, leading to big numbers for some UO defenders. Nelson had 15 tackles, and Daniels added 10.
What It Means: Oregon is now a win away from bowl eligibility, in a season in which that hasn't always felt like a given. The Ducks have three home games in their final four regular-season contests, but some tough matchups against California, at Stanford, and at home for USC and the Civil War.
Up Next: The Ducks open November at home against California next Saturday (7:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2).
Team Stats
ORE 3, ASU 0
ORE - Schneider, A. 24 yd field goal 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:14
ORE 10, ASU 0
ORE - Freeman, Royce 64 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 3 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:11
ORE 10, ASU 7
ASU - Lucien, Devin 3 yd pass from Bercovici, Mike (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:20
ORE 17, ASU 7
ORE - Carrington, D. 39 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:30
ORE 17, ASU 14
ASU - Chambers, Gary 39 yd pass from Bercovici, Mike (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:27
ORE 17, ASU 17
ASU - Gonzalez, Zane 28 yd field goal 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:21
ORE 17, ASU 24
ASU - Richard,Demario 22 yd run (Gonzalez, Zane kick), 4 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:06
ORE 20, ASU 24
ORE - Schneider, A. 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:24
ORE 20, ASU 31
ASU - Richard,Demario 1 yd pass from Bercovici, Mike (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:57
ORE 27, ASU 31
ORE - Nelson, Charles 100 yd kickoff return (Schneider, A. kick)
ORE 34, ASU 31
ORE - Benoit, Kani 62 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:40
ORE 34, ASU 34
ASU - Gonzalez, Zane 33 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 3:45
ORE 34, ASU 41
ASU - Kohl, Kody 5 yd pass from Bercovici, Mike (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 9 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:52
ORE 41, ASU 41
ORE - Stanford, D. 8 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:50
ORE 48, ASU 41
ORE - Stanford, D. 25 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
ORE 48, ASU 48
ASU - White, Tim 2 yd pass from Bercovici, Mike (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
ORE 48, ASU 55
ASU - Bercovici, Mike 18 yd run (Gonzalez, Zane kick), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
ORE 55, ASU 55
ORE - Freeman, Royce 1 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
ORE 61, ASU 55
ORE - Addison, Bralon 20 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Addison, Bralon passfailed) 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
