Third Quarter For The Ages Secures Rose Bowl For Oregon
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
PASADENA, Calif. — The Oregon defense knew the numbers: Over the past two seasons, Florida State had thrown 32 interceptions and lost 13 fumbles.
Despite those miscues, the Seminoles hadn't lost in more than two years. But if the Ducks could force some turnovers in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl, they liked their chances. They were right.
In a third quarter for the ages, Oregon forced four turnovers and turned them all into touchdowns. It was the decisive stretch in the Ducks' 59-20 victory over the Seminoles to advance to the national championship game on Jan. 12.
"We knew they gave up the ball a lot," UO linebacker Derrick Malone Jr. said. "So we had to make sure they paid for it."
Malone got the ball rolling, stripping Dalvin Cook to end FSU's opening drive of the second half, after the Seminoles had gains of 20 and 18 yards earlier in the possession. Oregon's defense forced two more fumbles and also intercepted Jameis Winston in the quarter, and forced yet another fumble early in the fourth.
"That was almost freaky," UO defensive backs coach John Neal said. "There was a point where they're moving the ball as easy as they want. But the study of the game still goes back to, from a defensive point of view, takeaways. If you win the takeaway battle, you win games."
At halftime Thursday, the Ducks led 18-13, despite losing the turnover battle on a Marcus Mariota interception just before the second quarter ended. That Oregon was able to blow the game open owed to the UO defense tilting the turnover margin in the Ducks' favor — in dramatic fashion.
It began with Malone's strip of Cook, setting up Royce Freeman's second rushing touchdown. "I remember him running really, really fast, and I didn't give up," Malone said. "The ball was right there, and I just took it. I took it."
The Seminoles demonstrated their well-documented resiliency by answering with a touchdown to pull within 25-20. But Oregon would score the next 24 points in the game unanswered, thanks to the big-play UO defense.
The Ducks first drove to a touchdown reception by Darren Carrington. Erick Dargan then forced a fumble recovered by Reggie Daniels, and Carrington hauled in another Mariota touchdown pass two plays later.
Florida State drove into Oregon territory again, before what might have been the final nail in the Seminoles' coffin. On fourth down from the UO 30-yard line, Winston dropped back to pass, scrambled under pressure, cocked back to throw and lost the handle.
Tony Washington collected a perfect bounce and rumbled 58 yards, giving the Ducks a 45-20 lead. Just before the third quarter ended, Dargan picked off a pass, setting up a Mariota rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Florida State might have answered using big-play receiver Rashad Greene, but the Ducks almost completely shut him down. Absent injured cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, senior Troy Hill shouldered much of the responsibility of trailing Greene around the field.
"He's one of the best receivers in the country," Hill said. "He's got routes, and that's what makes him a difference maker. When you've got a great quarterback and great receiver, that's what make him different."
Neal said he didn't entirely match Hill on Greene one-on-one, so as not to give away Oregon's coverage scheme so blatantly. And Hill wasn't willing to take all the credit for limiting Greene to just six receptions.
"It was a team effort, honestly," Hill said. "I can't hang my hat up like that. If it wasn't for the D line, and for the linebackers and safeties rerouting, it wouldn't have been like that. And a lot of the coverages we were playing. I'm happy, but we've still got another one to go."
