Offense Laments Missed Chances In Loss At Michigan State
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Ducks were down three, and had the ball in Michigan State territory with less than two minutes to play.
Down the left sideline surged Byron Marshall, free behind a Spartans defender. Vernon Adams Jr. spotted Marshall and unleashed a potential game-winning touchdown pass — only to have it sail just over Marshall’s head.
Ultimately, that was Oregon’s last, best shot at victory Saturday night in Spartan Stadium. The Ducks left with a 31-28 defeat, and an offense shaking its head about that missed chance and others.
“That should have been a touchdown,” Adams said. “That could have changed the game. We could have won right there.”
The Ducks scored the first and final touchdowns Saturday. In between they struggled to find traction in the running game, and saw Adams hounded into four sacks and two interceptions under pressure from a relentless Spartans pass rush.
The return of Charles Nelson galvanized the Ducks early, and Bralon Addison had a career day with 236 all-purpose yards. But mistakes over the course of Saturday’s game haunted Oregon, most notably the two interceptions and the inability to punch it in on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
“We moved the ball well at times, and then at times we didn’t,” said Nelson, who caught seven passes for 79 yards after sitting out Oregon’s opener. “There’s things we can do in practice to fix it.”
The midgame offensive struggles came after an electric start to the game. The Ducks took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 13 plays, using a mix of tough rushing by Royce Freeman and the dynamic running of Nelson, who caught three passes for 42 yards on the drive.
The drive ended with a short rushing touchdown for Freeman, and it appeared the Ducks were off and running.
“The first series was good — I wish the whole game could have been like that,” Adams said. “But it was tough. They’re a good defense.”
A Freeman fumble and the Spartans’ first sack spoiled Oregon’s next drive. Adams was sacked on third down again the next time the Ducks had the ball, then threw an interception late in the first quarter.
Oregon’s drive to the 1-yard line early in the second quarter ended with Freeman stacked up at the line. Adams followed with his second interception.
“Like I said last week, I’ve got to take care of the ball,” he said. “Those two interceptions are unacceptable. I need to take care of the ball and find a way to get a win.”
When the Ducks needed a spark, Addison was there to oblige. He returned a punt 81 yards for a game-tying touchdown early in the third quarter, and he caught five passes for 88 yards in the second half.
For the game, Addison matched Nelson with a team-leading seven receptions, for 138 yards.
“Just trying to be a spark any way I can,” Addison said. “Obviously it wasn’t enough. So we’ve just got to come back Monday ready to work.”
It very nearly was enough. With Michigan State up 31-21 in the fourth quarter, the UO defense made two straight stops. After the first, Adams drove the Ducks 80 yards and made it 31-28 with a touchdown pass to Marshall.
They almost hooked up again a few minutes later. But Adams and Marshall just missed on another connection, capping a night when the Ducks were very nearly good enough to pull off an upset, but not quite.
