Oregon Ducks Second Half Rush Attac Wears Down UW Defense 26-16 Win

The Washington defense set an early tone, but the Huskies’ offense was unable to play its part as the  Oregon Ducks weathered a sloppy first half to prove its dominance in a 26 to 16 win.  Duck running back Travis Dye finished the day with 213 rushing yards,  158 were in the second half.

To no one’s surprise, the heated rivalry started with a bang when reigning Pac-12 player defensive player of the week Carson Bruener intercepted  Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown’s second-down pass and rambled 44 yards to the Oregon six-yard line. The Dawgs offense looked like it was up for the fight when it took a 7-0 lead with a  Sean McGrew one-yard scamper through the belly of the Ducks defense.

The Ducks offense answered the Huskies’ score with a  46-yard field goal and the heated contest everyone was expecting looked to be underway. It was a good thing there were fireworks and heat battles on the field as a crowd of 63,193  sat through a  cold and torrential downpour.

 The Huskies’ offense put some doubt in Husky Nation when it sputtered and punted on its next offensive series with a three-and-out series. Race Porter’s punt landed on the Duck one yard. Jackson Sirmon tackled Oregon Travis Dye in the endzone for a Husky safety that warmed the hearts and minds of the Husky faithful.

Unfortunately, the feel-good vibe was short-lived as the Husky offenses next three drives were two punts, an interception, and a change of possession after an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt.  The defiant stand by the  Ducks defense inspired its offense which reeled off a 7 play 76yard  touchdown that saw Duck quarterback  Anthony Brown hit wide receiver Anthony Brown with a 31-yard TD pass. The Ducks went into the half with a 10-9 lead.

BRUISING SECOND HALF

The Husky offense’s ineptitude continued when it started the second half with another three and out.  The Duck offense on the other hand found its rhythm by running the ball down the Husky defense’s throat.  Oregon tailback  Travis Dye carried the ball five consecutive times from the Ducks 30-yard line to the Husky five-yard line.  While Brown was credited with a two-yard touchdown that  padded the Ducks lead to 17-9, it was Brown who did all the heavy lifting with  68 of the 70 rushing yards in the 7-play drive that ate up 3:14 of clock time.

  The Ducks continued their rush attack against a tiring Husky defense.  The Ducks offense turned to Dye who scored on the Duck’s next offensive possession on a brilliant 19-yard run that saw the Ducks create some separation from the Huskies with a 24 -9 lead. With the Ducks pulling away the Husky offense somehow found its rhythm after the Oregon score.  Sean McGrew’s two-yard run capped an 11 play 75-yard drive that had the Huskies back in the game at 24-16.

The Ducks stayed with the Dye train and the result was an 11 play 43-yard drive that eat up 8:59 of clock time. The weirdest part of the drive was that Oregon had no points to show for its work.  With a first and 10 at the Husky 14-yard line, the Duck offense self-destructed with consecutive personal fouls that took them out of field goal range giving them no choice but to punt the ball back to the Huskies.

CALAMITOUS MISTAKE

Another three and out by the Husky offense with 2:03 left in the game sealed the win for the Ducks. On fourth and 10 from its 10-yard line, Jaden Green snapped the ball over Race Porter’s head for a  Duck safety.