First Pac-12 Loss Comes In Desert

Saturday, November 23

Tempe, Ariz.

4:30 PM

University of Oregon

9-2 , 7-1

Arizona State

6-5 , 3-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Oregon

Arizona State

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

11/23/19 | Football

Box Score FINAL STATS - Arizona State 31, #6 Oregon 28 Oregon Postgame Notes

The Oregon football team's nine-game win streak ended Saturday night with a 31-28 loss at Arizona State, despite a career night for Johnny Johnson III.

By: Rob Moseley

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State made big plays on both sides of the ball to cripple Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes Saturday night, with UO receiver Johnny Johnson III having a career night as the Ducks mounted a late comeback bid that fell short.

The Sun Devils had touchdown receptions of 57 and 81 yards, the latter driving a dagger through No. 6 Oregon's comeback hopes after the Ducks had closed within 24-21 with 5:24 left in the game. ASU led just 13-7 entering the fourth quarter, but the period began with Justin Herbert's second interception of the night, turnovers the Sun Devils turned into 11 points.

The loss came a week after the Ducks (9-2, 7-1 Pac-12) clinched the Pac-12's North Division. Oregon will wrap up its regular season by hosting the Civil War on Nov. 30, before playing for the Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl berth on Dec. 6.

"Against a good team, you have to be at your very best from start to finish," UO coach Mario Cristobal said. "And we were not."

The Oregon Ducks take on the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on November 23, 2019 (Eric Evans Photography)

The UO offense had a hard time getting going out of the gate, perhaps due to the absence of junior receiver Jaylon Redd, who suited up but did not play due to injury. The Ducks got going midway through the first quarter, however, with Herbert throwing a beautiful fade route to Johnson that set up a touchdown run by Cyrus Habibi-Likio for a 7-0 lead.

Johnson would finish the game with 10 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns, but most of that didn't come until Arizona State had ripped off 24 straight points to lead 24-7 midway through the fourth quarter. Freshman QB Jayden Daniels completed his first 12 passes of the night, while the UO offense struggled to get going after staking the Ducks to an early lead.

The Ducks had a chance to stem the tide of Arizona State's momentum grab, facing fourth-and-one from the ASU 6-yard line late in the first quarter when it was tied 7-7. But a run by CJ Verdell was stopped for no gain, and the Ducks didn't start clicking again until the fourth quarter.

"Obviously a tough night, a physical battle," Cristobal said. "They made a lot of big plays. We came back and started rolling the latter half of the football game, but certainly got going too late."

Oregon rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns, both by Habibi-Likio. But Herbert endured a midgame stretch in which he was 1-of-7 with two interceptions, both of which the Sun Devils turned into touchdowns.

"When we are a good offense is when we have balance," Cristobal said. "That's always been the key to it. We were running the ball well, so we figured we could throw it too. We were just, we were off."

The Oregon Ducks take on the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on November 23, 2019 (Eric Evans Photography)

Herbert got going after the second turnover, completing 9-of-11 attempts early in the fourth quarter, including a 24-yard scoring pass to Johnson that made it a three-point game with 5:24 to go. After a short rush and a sack, ASU was facing third-and-16 from its 19-yard line; Oregon had a chance to get the ball back and drive to a go-ahead score, but instead Daniels lofted a deep ball that Brandon Aiyuk hauled in for an 81-yard touchdown reception.

The UO defense had been the best in the Pac-12 at limiting long pass plays, but ASU had receptions of 81, 57 and 46 yards, all of which ended in or set up touchdowns.

Herbert finished 20-of-36 for 304 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. CJ Verdell rushed 18 times for 99 yards, and Troy Dye led the defense with 13 tackles.