Ducks Tripped Up At Nebraska, 35-32

Saturday, September 17

Lincoln, Neb.

12:30 PM

University of Oregon

2-1

Nebraska

3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon

Nebraska

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/17/16 | Football

Box Score Postgame Notebook Season Stats Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Oregon suffered its first defeat of the 2016 regular season, losing a nonconference game to the Cornhuskers.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon suffered a 35-32 defeat at Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, fighting through the absence of two preseason all-America candidates as well as a flurry of penalty flags before falling to 2-1 on the season entering the start of Pac-12 play.

How It Happened: Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong scrambled 34 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 2:29 to play, two plays after throwing a 14-yard completion on fourth-and-nine to extend the drive. Oregon had a chance to respond and drove past midfield, but the Ducks' 13th and final penalty of the game put them in a hole and they couldn't dig out.

Oregon took its last lead at 32-28 early in the fourth quarter on the third rushing touchdown of the game by Tony Brooks-James. That completed the Ducks' rally back from a 28-20 deficit, as Kani Benoit's 41-yard touchdown got Oregon within 28-26 late in the third quarter.

The Ducks had a six-point lead at halftime, but Nebraska scored twice early in the third quarter to go up 28-20. The Ducks committed two pass interference penalties on that second drive, on a day marked by 126 penalty yards on Oregon.

Oregon entered halftime with a 20-14 lead after a wild second quarter. The Ducks led 8-7 entering the period, and got a defensive stop to open the quarter. Dakota Prukop then drove the offense 74 yards to the second rushing touchdown of the game by Brooks-James. The drive included a fourth-down conversion on which Prukop passed 24 yards to Dwayne Stanford down to the two-yard line, and ended with Brooks-James running around left end, where the Ducks had positioned tight ends Pharaoh Brown and Evan Baylis.

Nebraska then began to gash the UO defense and drove quickly into the red zone, before a backwards pass hit the turf and was scooped up by Arrion Springs. He returned it to the 50, and instead of the Huskers potentially tying the game, Taj Griffin raced 50 yards on the next play for a touchdown and the 20-7 lead. Oregon's defense followed with another stop, but the offense couldn't move the chains with a chance to add on; instead the Ducks punted, Nebraska ripped off a long return and the Huskers ultimately scored to make it 20-14.

The Ducks ran 26 times for 166 yards in the first half, thriving despite the absence of running back Royce Freeman and left tackle Tyrell Crosby for all but the opening minutes of the game. Brooks-James gave Oregon an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter, his third straight game with a rushing TD, before Nebraska answered later in the period to get within 8-7.

Who Stood Out: Benoit carried six times for 100 yards, Griffin had 68 yards on eight carries and Brooks-James rushed for 37 yards on three carries in the absence of Freeman. Charles Nelson caught eight passes for 80 yards, part of a 14-of-23 performance by Prukop for 146 yards. Johnny Ragin III returned from a one-game absence and led the defense with 10 tackles.

What It Means: The Ducks were ranked No. 22 in the AP top 25 and seem certain to fall out of the rankings. Also of concern will be the status of Freeman and Crosby going forward.

Notable: With Crosby out and Cameron Hunt pulled following a second-half penalty, the Ducks played much of the second half with junior Doug Brenner and four redshirt freshmen on the offensive line. … Oregon scored five touchdowns and attempted a two-point conversion after each, converting only the first. … The Ducks brought a 78-player travel squad to Nebraska, eight more than will be allowable for Pac-12 road games. Tight end Johnny Mundt and defensive end Jalen Jelks did not make the trip. … Jimmie Swain, a native of nearby Olathe, Kan., started at MIKE linebacker and Jonah Moi was the starter at SAM linebacker. In the secondary, Tyree Robinson shifted down to corner with Arrion Springs, with Khalil Oliver and Brenden Schooler at safety. Redshirt freshman Drayton Carlberg got the call at defensive tackle, giving the Ducks five first-time starters on that side of the ball. … Freeman's 31 yards propelled him into the Pac-12's top 20 all-time for career rushing yards (3,526).

Quotable:
UO coach Mark Helfrich
On his initial impressions
"Obviously the penalties killed us. … It's a tough one to swallow.

On the two-point conversion attempts
"We just believe a lot in what we're going in the swinging gate

On Prukop not getting off a pass on fourth-and-long to end Oregon's final possession
"That's a good lesson for him to learn. Fourth-and-the-ballgame, you've got to give somebody a chance."

Up Next: The Ducks return home next week to open Pac-12 play against Colorado (2:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network).