University of Oregon
3-5 , 1-4
Arizona State
5-4 , 2-4
Ducks Beat Sun Devils To End Slide
10/29/16 | Football
Behind a record day from QB Justin Herbert, Oregon beat Arizona State 54-35 on Saturday afternoon.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon posted its first conference win of the 2016 season and ended a five-game losing streak with a resounding 54-35 win over Arizona State on Saturday, which included a UO record-tying 489 passing yards by true freshman quarterback Justin Herbert.
How It Happened: The Ducks (3-5, 1-4 Pac-12) used a mix of explosive offense and timely playmaking on defense to beat the Sun Devils (5-4, 2-4). Herbert tied Bill Musgrave's UO single-game record for passing yards, and the defense intercepted three passes, two in the fourth quarter to help Oregon ice its first win since Sept. 10.
In a game between two teams ravaged by injuries, the Ducks and Sun Devils both started true freshman quarterbacks. Herbert threw touchdown passes to Pharaoh Brown and Charles Nelson in the first quarter, but Arizona State QB Dillon Sterling-Cole ran for a score late in the period to keep the Sun Devils within 17-14.
The second quarter was all Oregon. Aidan Schneider kicked his second and third field goals of the game, and Herbert threw another scoring pass to Brown with nine seconds left that gave the Ducks a 30-14 halftime lead. That score was set up by a Kaulana Apelu interception, the first turnover forced by Oregon's defense in 14 quarters.
Neither offense found much traction in the third quarter, and Oregon led 33-22 entering the fourth. After an ASU touchdown made it a one-score game, Herbert connected with Johnny Mundt on a 53-yard catch-and-run for a 40-28 lead. The Sun Devils forced a fumble and scored quickly to get within 40-35, but Tony Brooks-James capped a big day with a 58-yard touchdown run. An interception by Tyree Robinson at the goal line ended the last ASU threat, and Royce Freeman capped the scoring for Oregon to make it 54-35.
Who Stood Out: Herbert finished 31-of-42 passing for 489 yards and four touchdowns, and added 23 yards on the ground to set a UO record with 512 yards of offense. On another day in which Freeman was limited, Brooks-James carried nine times for 132 yards and the late score. Brown had a career day, catching seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Jimmie Swain continued a breakout month with 13 tackles, and Troy Dye added 10. The Ducks also got excellent pressure from their third-and-long specialty pass-rush group of Jonah Moi, Henry Mondeaux, T.J. Daniel and Justin Hollins, who helped limit ASU to 4-of-13 third-down conversions.
What It Means: Oregon avoided losing six in a row for the first time since 1991, and got a much-deserved reward for its efforts the past few weeks. The Ducks still must win three of their final four games to reach 6-6 and ensure bowl eligibility.
Quotable:
Freshman quarterback Justin Herbert
On breaking through for a victory
"The last couple games, we learned a lot from. Finally we were able to show it today. We've just got to keep building on it, because this was a good week, and we've got to learn from it."
Junior defensive back Tyree Robinson
On his feelings after the victory
"It was just good to see everybody out there having fun, just feeding off each other. There were a couple games we weren't playing with energy. I think today was different. We didn't give up. We know we're capable of finishing a game."
Notable: The Ducks scored on their opening possession for the first time this year, and scored before their opponent for the first time since this year's game at Nebraska. … Herbert's 10 touchdowns over the past two games matches the UO record set by Marcus Mariota in 2012. … Freeman found the end zone after being held scoreless in the previous two games. … Apelu and defensive tackle Gary Baker each made his first career start. The Ducks have used a different starting lineup on defense in all eight games this season. … Defensive regulars A.J. Hotchkins, Reggie Daniels, Drayton Carlberg, Elijah George and Canton Kaumatule were not in uniform Saturday.
Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to face USC on Saturday. Kickoff time and television information should be announced Sunday
Team Stats
ASU 0, ORE 7
ORE - Brown, Pharaoh 72 yd pass from Herbert, Justin (Schneider, A. kick) 3 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:11
ASU 7, ORE 7
ASU - Ballage, Kalen 12 yd run (Gonzalez, Zane kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:22
ASU 7, ORE 14
ORE - Nelson, Charles 31 yd pass from Herbert, Justin (Schneider, A. kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:17
ASU 7, ORE 17
ORE - Schneider, A. 36 yd field goal 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:52
ASU 14, ORE 17
ASU - Sterling-Cole,D 1 yd run (Gonzalez, Zane kick), 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:42
ASU 14, ORE 20
ORE - Schneider, A. 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:40
ASU 14, ORE 23
ORE - Schneider, A. 30 yd field goal 10 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:53
ASU 14, ORE 30
ORE - Brown, Pharaoh 4 yd pass from Herbert, Justin (Schneider, A. kick) 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 0:24
ASU 22, ORE 30
ASU - Ballage, Kalen 15 yd run (Ballage, Kalen pass), 9 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:11
ASU 22, ORE 33
ORE - Schneider, A. 23 yd field goal 6 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:17
ASU 28, ORE 33
ASU - Harry, N'Keal 9 yd pass from Sterling-Cole,D (Sterling-Cole,D passfailed) 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:36
ASU 28, ORE 40
ORE - Mundt, Johnny 53 yd pass from Herbert, Justin (Schneider, A. kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:09
ASU 35, ORE 40
ASU - Kohl, Kody 3 yd pass from Ballage, Kalen (Gonzalez, Zane kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:42
ASU 35, ORE 47
ORE - Brooks-James 58 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:33
ASU 35, ORE 54
ORE - Freeman, Royce 10 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 3 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:16
