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Ducks Defeat Rival Oregon State 38-29, Earn a Trip to Their Third Straight Pac-12 Championship Game

November 27, 2021 4:19PM PST
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Ducks Defeat Rival Oregon State 38-29, Earn a Trip to Their Third Straight Pac-12 Championship Game
AP Photo/Andy Nelson

The game formerly known as the “Civil War” kicked off from Eugene with the Ducks looking to secure a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game for the third year in a row, while the Beavers were hoping to grab a share of the Pac-12 North title in a three-way tie with Oregon and Washington State.

The Ducks started with the ball, and found success early on the ground between Travis Dye and Anthony Brown Jr. trading off carries as they marched 75 yards on 9 plays for the opening touchdown of the game. Travis Dye ran it in from 20 yards out on 4th & 1 to give the Ducks a 7-0 lead.

Oregon’s defense stopped the Beavers on their first series, giving the ball right back the Ducks offense. This time, Oregon started from their own 4 yard line but were able to convert a 3rd down from their own 10 to keep the possession alive. Quarterback Anthony Brown Jr. was doing a great job mixing up the run and the pass, while using his legs when needed.

Once again, the Ducks found themselves in a 3rd & short situation at midfield. Anthony Brown Jr. avoided pressure while moving to his right and keeping his eyes down field to find Devon Williams on a beautiful 50-yard touchdown strike.

Ducks extended their lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.

Both teams traded field goals on each of their next possessions to bring the score to 17-3 Ducks with 8:06 left in the first half. After a quick stop for the Ducks defense, Oregon had the ball at their own 30-yard-line and a two-touchdown lead. Anthony Brown Jr. led a long 13-play, 70-yard drive, capped off with his legs on a 10-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21 with under a minute to play in the first half.

24-3 Ducks at halftime.

The Ducks were outgaining the Beavers 307 yards to 80 at the break. The good news for Oregon State was that they would begin the second half with the football.

On the Beavers opening drive of the second half, they found some life with B.J. Baylor and Trey Lowe on the ground. Quarterback Chance Nolan put the Beavers in scoring position after a 27-yard connection with wide receiver Trevon Bradford that got them down to the Oregon 5-yard-line.

Oregon State faced a 4th & Goal at the Oregon 4-yard-line, with no choice but to go for it being down 21. Chance Nolan found tight end Luke Musgrave in the left flat who was able to sneak inside the pylon for the first touchdown of the game for the Beavers. Instead of kicking the extra point to make it a 14-point game, the Beavers’ offense took the field to go for two. The play was blown up in the backfield, no good.

24-9 Ducks with 10:33 left in the third quarter.

Oregon State kicked the ball away to Oregon looking to make their first stop of the game defensively. The Beavers’ defense did just that, staying aggressive on an Oregon wide receiver screen play on third down. The Ducks were forced to punt for the first time, as the Beavers were given a chance to once again cut into the Oregon lead.

Oregon’s defense stood tall to force a punt and prevent the Beavers from gaining any more momentum. The Ducks offense took possession as the third quarter came to an end.

24-9 Ducks, end of third quarter.

Oregon moved the ball using a balanced attack, with Anthony Brown Jr. finding Kris Hutson on back-to-back plays from the Oregon State 32-yard-line. Hutson scored from 7 yards down to extend the lead to 22, his first career touchdown.

31-9 Ducks, 12:00 left in the fourth quarter.

On the touchdown drive, Travis Dye became the 19th running back in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

At this point it seemed as if Oregon might’ve delivered the knockout blow, but the Beavers offense had other plans. Oregon State moved the ball quickly down the field on 4 plays, beginning with a 35-yard completion to Luke Musgrave. Beavers were set up with 1st & Goal, and B.J. Baylor did the rest on a 4-yard touchdown run.

Oregon State went for two again, but Verone McKinley III was there to stop the play short of the goal line, no good.

31-15 Ducks, 9:57 left to play.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oregon State surprised Oregon with an onside kick and were successful. Beavers’ offense took possession again at the Oregon 48-yard line, looking to cut the game to one possession.

Oregon State’s offense found rhythm playing fast, so they kept up the tempo moving the ball through the air on their way to the end zone. Chance Nolan found Trevon Bradford for the 15-yard touchdown dart, with another two-point conversion try pending.

On the conversion, Nolan was pressured on his backside and had to get rid of the ball early which led to an overthrow towards the back right corner of the end zone. Oregon’s lead remained at 10.

31-21 Ducks, 8:28 left to play.

Oregon did gain possession after the next Oregon State kickoff and went to work to try to close it out. The Ducks proceeded to move the ball just outside the Oregon State red zone after Anthony Brown Jr. converted a huge third down pass to keep the drive alive. On their second third down opportunity of the drive, freshman running back Byron Cardwell ripped off a big time 31-yard run to set Oregon up with 1st & Goal at the 1-yard line.

Travis Dye took the handoff and high stepped into the end zone to cap off a 9-play 75-yard drive that burned over five minutes of clock. Once again, Oregon held a three-possession lead and fans began to smell a trip to Las Vegas looming.

38-21 Ducks, 3:14 left to play.

In garbage time, Oregon State moved the ball 75-yards on 12 plays as things began to get chippy. Beavers converted a 4th down attempt to set up 1st & Goal, and finished the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run by Chance Nolan.

Oregon State went for the two-point conversion for the fourth time and finally converted after a defensive holding penalty on Oregon gave them another try.

38-29 Ducks, with just 1:08 remaining and an onside kick pending. Oregon State’s onside kick try was unsuccessful, and Oregon was able to run out the rest of the clock.

FINAL: Ducks 38, Beavers 29

 

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