University of Oregon
4-8 , 2-7
Oregon State
4-8 , 3-6
Civil War Win Streak Snapped At Eight
11/26/16 | Football
Oregon wrapped up the 2016 season at 4-8 after losing Saturday at Oregon State, 34-24.
How It Happened: Oregon (4-8, 2-7 Pac-12) led 24-14 after Justin Herbert's 23-yard touchdown pass to Charles Nelson and an Aidan Schneider field goal early in the third quarter. But Oregon State answered quickly and, as a driving rain storm descended upon the stadium, put a stranglehold on momentum the rest of the way.
The Beavers got within 24-21 on the first of three straight touchdowns to end the game by bruising back Ryan Nall, who finished with four overall. The rain contributed to poor snaps, dropped passes and missed tackles by Oregon, including a drop by Johnny Mundt in the end zone on the Ducks' final play.
The teams went into halftime tied, 14-14. After falling behind early, the Ducks answered Nall's first touchdown with an impressive drive ending in four straight runs by Tony Brooks-James, the last a three-yard TD. After the team traded field position for the next few possessions, Oregon went up 14-7 on a reverse pass from Jalen Brown to Darren Carrington II early in the second quarter.
Oregon State answered on the next possession to forge the 14-14 tie. A 19-yard screen pass to Nelson — sprung by a Brady Aiello block that took out two defenders — and a 34-yard run by Royce Freeman got the Ducks back into the red zone, but Brooks-James fumbled late in the half and the score remained tied at halftime.
Who Stood Out: Freeman, who will decide in the coming weeks whether to return to Oregon or enter the NFL draft pool, rushed for 106 yards on 19 carries. Senior linebacker Johnny Ragin III led the defense with 11 tackles, followed by true freshman Troy Dye with nine, true freshman Brenden Schooler with eight and Jimmie Swain with eight.
What It Means: Oregon's hopes of sneaking into a bowl game at 5-7 were ended, as the Ducks finished 4-8 for their worst regular-season record since 1991.
Quotable:
Head coach Mark Helfrich
On his self-evaluation at the conclusion of the season
"Didn't win enough games. That's blunt, but that's a fact. We have to own that part, and own the solution."
On his message to players
"The outcomes are on me. What's on you is going back to work and never, ever letting this feeling happen again."
Notable: Freeman, who entered the day with 4,040 career rushing yards, passed Napoleon Kaufman of UW into ninth in Pac-12 career history. …. Carrington, who entered the day with 109 career receptions, moved into Oregon's career top 20 with three more. … The Ducks have scored 20 or more points in 42 straight games, the longest streak in the FBS. … Oregon's streaks of having a 1,000-yard rusher and leading the Pac-12 in rushing both ended this season.
Up Next: The team will hold its postseason banquet Sunday before coaches head out on the road for recruiting.
Team Stats
ORE 0, OSU 7
OSU - Nall, Ryan 12 yd run (Owens, Garrett kick), 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:17
ORE 7, OSU 7
ORE - Brooks-James 3 yd run (Schneider, A. kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:28
ORE 14, OSU 7
ORE - Carrington, D. 33 yd pass from Brown, Jalen (Schneider, A. kick) 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 1:37
ORE 14, OSU 14
OSU - Ortiz, Ricky 6 yd pass from McMaryion, M. (Owens, Garrett kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:33
ORE 21, OSU 14
ORE - Nelson, Charles 23 yd pass from Herbert, Justin (Schneider, A. kick) 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:03
ORE 24, OSU 14
ORE - Schneider, A. 46 yd field goal 11 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:54
ORE 24, OSU 21
OSU - Nall, Ryan 14 yd run (Owens, Garrett kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:58
ORE 24, OSU 28
OSU - Nall, Ryan 6 yd run (Owens, Garrett kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:32
ORE 24, OSU 34
OSU - Nall, Ryan 2 yd run (Owens, Garrett kickfailed), 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:17
