University of Oregon
6-3 , 4-2
California
5-4 , 2-4
Ducks Explode For 777 Yards, Limit Goff In Win Over Cal
11/08/15 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon used its most complete performance of the season to handily defeat California, 44-28, on Saturday night before 56,604 fans who made up the 108th straight sellout crowd in Autzen Stadium. The Ducks held talented Cal quarterback Jared Goff in check most of the night, and put up a school-record 777 yards of total offense.
How It Happened: The Ducks got off to an ignominious start, having a punt blocked to put California in position for an early touchdown, then throwing an interception that gave the Golden Bears possession for a drive to a field goal and a 10-0 lead. But from there, the first half was all Oregon. The Ducks rattled off 31 unanswered points, with Royce Freeman surpassing 100 yards in just two quarters and Bralon Addison hauling in two of the three touchdown passes in the half by Vernon Adams Jr.
With the offensive linemen supplying ample time in the pocket, Adams converted a third-and-long with a 46-yard pass to Darren Carrington early in the second quarter. Adams ended the drive by tucking the ball and running for a 10-yard touchdown, which he finished off by somersaulting across the goal line. More outstanding protection gave Adams ample time to find Addison and Dwayne Stanford for touchdowns that made it 24-10. Late in the half, Adams dumped a short pass to Addison, who was hit at the knees, reached out to keep his balance and dove at the pylon to make it 31-10 going into halftime.
The Golden Bears opened the second half with a field goal, and improbably blocked another UO punt that they turned into a touchdown. It was 31-21 at that point, but Oregon steadied itself. The Ducks used a long drive to a field goal to regain some momentum, then scored on the first play of the fourth quarter when receiver-turned-safety Charles Nelson lined up at running back, ran a wheel route and hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception for a 41-21 Oregon lead.
The Ducks tacked on a field goal late in the fourth quarter, following an 80-yard passing touchdown for the Golden Bears, a rare significant breakdown by Oregon's defense. The UO secondary atoned for the error late in regulation when Khalil Oliver picked off a pass with 2:23 to play, allowing Oregon to run out the clock.
Who Stood Out: Adams finished 17-of-29 for 300 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. Freeman had 29 carries for 180 yards, Tony Brooks-James added 101 yards on seven carries and Kani Benoit had eight rushes for 94 yards. Carrington caught four passes for 112 yards, his fifth straight 100-yard outing. DeForest Buckner and Tyree Robinson each had seven tackles to lead the defense, and Arrion Springs broke up three passes.
What It Means: The Ducks (6-3, 4-2) became bowl eligible, by no means a primary goal in any given season, but notable given the team's inconsistencies at times in 2015. They avoided losing three straight home games for the first time since 1986, and remained mathematically alive for the Pac-12 North title entering next week's showdown with division-leading Stanford.
Quotable:
Mark Helfrich, UO head coach
On the offense's record day
“Obviously it starts up front. Those guys did a really good job of neutralizing their front and getting to the second level.”
On the secondary containing Cal's receivers
“As a group, they're growing up. Those guys are big, they're fast, they're seasoned and they have great trigger man. To stand up to those guys when it was needed … they're growing up.”
Notable: Defensive backs coach John Neal spent the game in the press box, for the first time in his UO tenure. Graduate assistant Kwame Agyeman was with the secondary on the sideline. … With Christian French unavailable, Torrodney Prevot started at outside linebacker for the first time in his career. … Autzen Stadium public address announcer Don Essig missed just his second game in 47 years, due to an illness.
Up Next: The Ducks play their final regular-season road game next Saturday at Stanford (4:30 p.m., FOX).
Team Stats
CAL 7, ORE 0
CAL - Anderson, Steph 7 yd pass from Goff, Jared (Anderson, Matt kick) 7 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:42
CAL 10, ORE 0
CAL - Anderson, Matt 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:58
CAL 10, ORE 3
ORE - Schneider, A. 41 yd field goal 11 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:55
CAL 10, ORE 10
ORE - Adams Jr., V. 10 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:24
CAL 10, ORE 17
ORE - Addison, Bralon 28 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:03
CAL 10, ORE 24
ORE - Stanford, D. 10 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 5 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:22
CAL 10, ORE 31
ORE - Addison, Bralon 15 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:17
CAL 13, ORE 31
CAL - Anderson, Matt 48 yd field goal 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:14
CAL 21, ORE 31
CAL - Enwere, Vic 9 yd run (Goff, Jared rush), 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:02
CAL 21, ORE 34
ORE - Schneider, A. 21 yd field goal 13 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:19
CAL 21, ORE 41
ORE - Nelson, Charles 20 yd pass from Adams Jr., V. (Schneider, A. kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:54
CAL 28, ORE 41
CAL - Treggs, Bryce 80 yd pass from Goff, Jared (Anderson, Matt kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:14
CAL 28, ORE 44
ORE - Schneider, A. 19 yd field goal 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:04
