For the second time this season Oregon was shutout in the first quarter. On the opening drive, Byron Marshall dropped a wide open pass on fourth down that ended Oregon’s most promising drive of the quarter.
Arizona successfully ran the ball against the Oregon defense on its first drive. The running game success translated into the game’s first score: A 28-yard field goal from Wildcats place kicker Casey Skowron to make the score 3-0.
The Ducks got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when freshman running back took the carry down the right side and then threw the ball back to quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota bounced off a tackle and ran through another before getting into the end zone for a score. The Ducks took a 7-3 lead into the second half.
Key plays:
– Oregon safety Reggie Daniels had his first interception of the season when he picked off Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon in the first quarter.
– One player after trucking an Arizona defensive back for a ten-yard carry, freshman running back Royce Freeman took the ball and completed a throw back pass to Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota for a touchdown.
– Arizona defensive tackle Dan Pettinatio had a huge sack and forced fumble on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. The fumble was Mariota’s first turnover on the season.
– With twenty seconds left in the first half, and the Wildcats driving, Terris Jones-Grigsby fumbled on the Ducks 10-yard line to end the drive. Linebacker Derrick Malone had the fumble recovery.
Three things to watch in the second half:
1) How will the Oregon running game respond to a less than impressive first half? Between Freeman, Mariota, Tyner and Marshall, the ducks have just 82 yards on 24 attempts — an average of 3.4 yards per carry.
2) Will Oregon take advantage of Arizona mistakes? So far the Wildcats have two turnovers – one fumble recovery and one interception – in the game but neither were followed by a scoring drive.
3) Can the Arizona defense keep it up? Give the Wildcats credit, they’re playing great defense so far and limited one of the best offenses to just seven points and 210 yards of total offense in the first half.
Oregon Passing
Marcus Mariota – 9-of-16, 102 yards.
Royce Freeman – 1-of-1, 26 yards and one touchdown
Arizona Passing
Anu Soloman – 7-of-13, 70 yards
Oregon Rushing
Royce Freeman – 11 carries, 57 yards
Thomas Tyner – 5 carries, 15 yards
Arizona Rushing
Terris Jones-Grigsby – 11 carries, 57 yards
Nick Wilson – 5 carries, 28 yards
Oregon Receiving
Keanon Lowe – 2 catches, 34 yards
Byron Marshall – 5 catches, 41 yards
Arizona Receiving
Nate Phillips – 2 catches, 21 yards
Oregon Total Offense- 210
Arizona Total Offense- 172
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