BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) –The Oregon Ducks finished their season on a high note Monday morning. The 8th ranked Ducks took on the 23rd-ranked Liberty Flames in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl, and despite the slow start, this one was all Oregon.
The Ducks were down 6-3 at the end of the first quarter, but from there on out they were lights out. In the second quarter, Oregon scored on four straight possessions.
In Bo Nix’s final college game, he threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns. Nix set two Oregon records along the way, passing Marcus Mariota for the most single-season touchdowns with 43 and most single-season yards with 4,457.
With wide receiver draft prospect Troy Franklin out, Nix found Tez Johnson all day long. Johnson had 11 receptions, 172 yards and a touchdown. Johnson also broke a record, as he set the single-season receptions record with 82. and let’s not forget about star running back Bucky Irving who ran for 117 yards and a touchdown.
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The Ducks scored two touchdowns in the second half and went on to win 45-6. They finished their final season in the PAC-12, 12- 2.
On Thursday at 11:26 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a special weather statement until Friday at 6 a.m. for Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon.
“Patches of freezing drizzle are moving through the area, with temperatures currently hovering between 20 and 30 degrees. As a result, light ice accumulation is causing a thin glaze of ice on roadways, particularly on bridges, overpasses, and lightly used corridors. Conditions are expected to persist until 6 a.m. Use caution if traveling,” says the weather service.
Kacey KC would lead an agency that manages 745,000 acres of Oregon forestland.
FILE: A log truck in the Tillamook State Forest pictured in a file photo.
Amelia Templeton / OPB
Gov. Tina Kotek has chosen Oregon’s next top forestry executive.
If approved by the state Senate, Kacey KC would be the first woman to permanently lead the Oregon Department of Forestry.
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KC has worked in forestry for more than two decades, most recently as the boss of the Nevada Division of Forestry. She was tapped as the President of the National Association of State Foresters in 2023.
“While I am not from Oregon, my experience at both the national and state level equips me to deepen key relationships while leading and supporting the strong work and mission of the Department,” KC said in a statement Thursday.
Kotek tapped KC for the job after state forester Cal Mukumoto resigned in January 2025 amid rising wildfire costs and controversy over multiple workplace conduct investigations into state employees. Kate Skinner, a longtime Tillamook district forester, served as the interim forester after Mukumoto’s resignation.
KC would lead an agency that manages 745,000 acres of Oregon forestland, including by helping fight wildfires. The agency is also responsible for implementing rules that seek to balance the state’s logging interests with the protection of vulnerable species.
“KC brings tenacity and a get-it-done style to her management approach and knows how to build strong partnerships across all levels of government to tackle complex challenges,” Kotek said.
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The Senate Committee on Rules will take up KC’s appointment during the February legislative session.
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A competitive opening 14 minutes by Oregon State ballooned to a decided Saint Mary’s halftime lead, then snowballed into the third 30-point loss of the season and the worst shooting game in more than nine years for the Beavers.
Josiah Lake II scored 17 points, but was the only player in double-figures for Oregon State in an 81-51 loss to Saint Mary’s Wednesday night in front of 3,390 at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California.
Lake, who was 7 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 at the free throw line, was the only player to make more than two field goals in a season-low scoring outing for Oregon State (10-12, 3-6 WCC). The Beavers shot 28.6% from the floor — their lowest since shooting 28% from the field on Dec. 18, 2016 against Portland — including a season-low 12.5% from three.
“Offensively really poor shooting night by us and then even defensively we had a hard time keeping the ball in front,” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said on postgame radio. “We’re fighting for our lives and we’re trying to cut corners.”
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Joshua Dent had 16 points and 11 assists and Paulius Murauskas added 15 points and six rebounds for Saint Mary’s (18-3, 7-1), which dominated the glass (44-28) and shot 34.8% from three.
The Gaels turned a 19-17 lead with 5:55 to go in the first half into a 36-25 lead at the break by making 7 of its last 9 shots going into halftime.
That extended with more makes to open the second half as Saint Mary’s broke open a 21-point lead en route to its 21st straight home win.
“We didn’t defend to start the second half, but we had some great looks,” Tinkle said. “Got to knock them down.”
Oregon State did not score consecutive baskets during the second half, during which it shot just 25% from the field, including 12.5% from three.
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OSU guard Dez White (10.3 points) did not play due to a thigh bruise.
“There will be some good in this,” Tinkle said. “A lot of it’s going to come down to we didn’t guard our man defensively in the second half and we missed a lot of opportunities offensively to put the ball in the bucket.”
