Ducks Fly Past Panthers, Enter Pac-12 Play 2-1

Saturday, September 19

Eugene, Ore.

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

2-1

Georgia State

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Georgia State

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/19/15 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. — With Vernon Adams Jr. in uniform but on the bench to get healthy, junior Jeff Lockie made his first career start at quarterback in No. 12 Oregon's 61-28 victory over Georgia State on Saturday before a crowd of 56,859, the 105th sellout in Autzen Stadium history.

How It Happened: Tyree Robinson's first career interception was returned for a pick-six to open the game, the first of two defensive touchdowns on the day for Oregon. The Panthers used a couple of big plays in the passing game and a UO fumble to keep the score respectable, but the Ducks were in control start to finish and enter Pac-12 play next week 2-1.

Lockie led the Ducks to field goals on his first two drives, and it was 13-0 before Georgia State (1-2) used a couple of explosion plays in the passing game to set up their first touchdown. Royce Freeman scored from 22 yards out to make it 20-7 in the second quarter, Lockie connected with Dwayne Stanford for a 35-yard scoring play on a tunnel screen and Aidan Schneider tacked on two more field goals to make it 33-7 at halftime.

Freshman Kirk Merritt fumbled at the end of a kick return to open the second half, setting up Georgia State's second touchdown. Oregon made it 40-14 when Bralon Addison lined up at quarterback and pitched to Taj Griffin for a short rushing touchdown, but the Panthers quickly answered with a 75-yard touchdown reception on which the Ducks missed a couple chances at tackles.

The UO offense answered again, with Lockie hitting Johnny Mundt for his first receiving touchdown since November 2013, putting Oregon up 47-21 late in the third quarter. Georgia State's third passing touchdown of the quarter got the Panthers back within 47-28 entering the final period, in which Joe Walker returned a fumble 48 yards for Oregon's second defensive touchdown and QB Taylor Alie ran for an 87-yard score.

Who Stood Out: Lockie finished 23-of-31 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. …. Freeman's rushing touchdown was No. 23 of his career, ninth in UO history. He finished with 10 carries for 101 yards. … Defensively, Robinson ended up with two interceptions — both on tipped passes — to become the first Duck with two since Erick Dargan against Wyoming last season. … Not to be overlooked were the efforts of both UO placekickers. Schneider became the first UO kicker to make four field goals in a half since Paul Martinez had five in the first half against Montana in 2005. And Matt Wogan recorded touchbacks on all but three of his 11 kickoffs over the course of the day.

What It Means: Oregon was able to win comfortably while playing without starters Adams, Chris Seisay and Cameron Hunt. The big pass plays by Georgia State and missed tackles by the Ducks remain concerns for the coaching staff, but the defense's two touchdowns and four sacks were positives to take from the game.

Notable: Alie's run was the fifth-longest in UO history, and longest by an Oregon quarterback since 1938. … Doug Brenner made the start at right guard in Hunt's place, and Ugo Amadi became the first UO true freshman to start a game this season, in place of Seisay. … Addison started at receiver, with Stanford playing off the bench. Addison also had three rushes for nine yards out of the “wildcat” formation. … The head linesperson Saturday was Catherine Conti, thought to be the first female official in stadium history.

Up Next: The Ducks open Pac-12 play by hosting Utah on Saturday evening, with game time and TV information to be announced Monday.