Ducks Survive Preseason Unscathed

Saturday, September 15

Eugene, Ore.

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

3-0

San Jose State

0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

San Jose State

Oregon

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

09/15/18 | Football

Box Score FINAL STATS No. 20 Oregon 35, San Jose State 22 UO Season Stats (9/15/18)Oregon Postgame Notes San Jose State Postgame Notes

Oregon beat San Jose State on Saturday, 35-22, and will enter next week's conference opener against Stanford at 3-0.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Justin Herbert threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, helping the No. 20 Oregon football emerge unscathed from an uneven day overall as the Ducks beat San Jose State, 35-22, on Saturday before 50,049 fans in Autzen Stadium.

Oregon completed a 3-0 run in nonconference play, setting up a showdown with Stanford next Saturday in Autzen for the early lead in the race for the Pac-12 North Division. ESPN's College GameDay will be produced from Eugene that day, it was announced following the Ducks' win over San Jose State, in recognition of the game's national significance.

"Our goal is to 'Take the Pac' and win the Pac-12," junior linebacker Troy Dye said, using the phrase brought to the program by strength and conditioning coach Aaron Feld. "We've got to go out there and start on a great foot, and get it rolling."

The Ducks started well Saturday, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman short-yardage back Cyrus Habibi-Likio ran for his third touchdown in three games, and junior tight end Jacob Breeland caught his first TD pass of the year, a 66-yard rope up the seam from Herbert. Breeland became the 13th different Duck to score a touchdown already this season.

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But the Ducks couldn't sustain that momentum, with the San Jose State defensive line tying up the Oregon run game and Herbert able to complete only 16-of-34 attempts overall. UO coach Mario Cristobal said the passing game was hampered by difficult down-and-distance situations owing to the struggles in the run game; Oregon averaged 2.8 yards per carry on first-and-10 over the course of the game.

"Today we played some inconsistent football," Cristobal said. "We were inconsistent in a couple phases. Offensively, certainly that's not the standard for the way we run the football."

Herbert made his completions count, at least, with a 39-yard TD to Johnny Johnson III that made it 21-6 at halftime, and a 22-yard scoring pass to Johnson on a fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter. In between, Habibi-Likio added his second rushing touchdown, giving him four on five carries this season.

"A lot of people out there wanted to skip this game and go right to conference play," Cristobal said. "You have to protect your team from that thinking. ...

"Is that part it? It could be. Certainly I know this: We're always on guard. We have to be better about being on guard, and make sure it doesn't affect us."

Senior Ugochukwu Amadi had a big day for the UO defense, making eight tackles and breaking up two passes. He also returned three punts for 100 yards, including a 57-yard return that set up Habibi-Likio's second touchdown of the day, in the third quarter.

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Senior outside linebacker Justin Hollins also finished with eight tackles, including two for lost yardage with one sack, and he also intercepted a pass.

"It's a good 'W,' but we're not satisfied with our performance," Hollins said. "We're just trying to go into practice, get everything together, get more disciplined and get ready for Stanford."