Oregon
No. 25 Washington shocks No. 6 Oregon 37-34, ruining the Ducks’ College Football Playoff hopes
Oregon’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes went up in flames on Saturday night time by the hands of Washington in a heartbreaking 37-34 loss.
And it was due to a really questionable determination by the Oregon teaching employees.
With the sport tied at 34-34 with 1:30 left in regulation, the Geese determined to for it on fourth-and-1 from their very own 34-yard line. Ty Thompson was within the recreation at quarterback for the Geese after starter Bo Nix exited with an obvious ankle damage.
With the backup in, Oregon ran the ball 4 straight occasions. The fourth of these runs went for a lack of one, leading to a expensive turnover on downs.
That call and failed fourth-down strive gave Washington the ball in Oregon territory. The Huskies gained solely eight yards, however that was sufficient for Peyton Henry to drill a 43-yard area objective with 51 seconds remaining.
It proved to be the game-winner.
Penix, Nix trip in epic second half
The sport was low-scoring within the first half, but it surely changed into the back-and-forth shootout all of us anticipated within the second half with Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix going blow for blow.
Washington took a 13-10 lead into halftime earlier than the groups traded 5 touchdowns to open the third quarter. At that time, following a 67-yard bomb from Nix to Troy Franklin, Oregon had taken a 31-27 lead with 3:40 to go within the third.
On the following kickoff, Washington’s Cameron Davis inadvertently touched his knee down at his personal 1-yard line. That meant the Huskies must march 99 yards to return in entrance.
Washington made it 98 yards as an alternative.
It took 10 performs for Washington to advance all the best way to Oregon’s 1-yard line, however that is when Penix made a mistake. On a first-and-goal play, the left-handed quarterback rolled to his proper and seemed for someplace to throw. With Oregon defenders closing in a rush, it seemed like Penix would merely throw the ball away and reside for one more down.
As an alternative, he pressured one into site visitors and was intercepted.
On the time, it seemed like that call from Penix would doom the Huskies.
Oregon’s ensuing possession started at its personal 1-yard line with 14:27 remaining. The Geese turned to their operating again duo of Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, they usually plowed their means down the sector.
The Geese made all of it the best way to the Washington 10-yard line and dialed up a quarterback draw for Nix on a third-and-5 play. Nix, top-of-the-line operating quarterbacks within the nation, was hit onerous after a two-yard achieve.
Not solely was Nix wanting the road to realize, he was injured on the play. Whereas Nix hobbled off to the damage tent, Oregon’s Camden Lewis hit a 26-yard area objective to increase the result in 34-27 with 3:54 to play.
It was a drive that lasted greater than 10 minutes for Oregon, however Washington would want simply 47 seconds to tie the rating.
On third-and-7, Penix made an unbelievable throw to hit Taj Davis in stride for a 62-yard landing.
Washington scored so rapidly that Nix wasn’t able to return to the sector. That put Thompson, a redshirt freshman, into the sport in a high-pressure spot for the Geese.
With Nix out, Oregon’s coaches leaned on the operating recreation. This time, Washington was prepared and acquired that essential fourth down cease that opened the door for Henry’s successful kick.
Nix would return for Oregon’s last drive. The Geese superior contained in the Washington 40, however did not get shut sufficient to present Lewis an opportunity to tie the sport along with his leg. The ultimate play of the sport was a Hail Mary try from Nix that fell wanting the tip zone, lastly signaling the tip of Washington’s unbelievable upset.
Penix completed the sport with 408 yards passing and two touchdowns. On the opposite aspect, Nix threw for 280 yards, ran for 59 yards and had three complete touchdowns.
What does this imply for Oregon?
Oregon opened the 12 months with a 49-3 loss to Georgia earlier than reeling off eight consecutive victories, all however one by a double-digit margin.
At 8-1 general and 6-0 in Pac-12 play, the Geese have been No. 6 within the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings. If Oregon continued to win, it was going to remain in that nationwide championship dialog. That got here to an finish on Saturday.
No two-loss workforce has ever reached the four-team playoff, so now Oregon will set its sights on a Pac-12 title. Oregon is considered one of 4 Pac-12 groups with only one loss in league play. Becoming a member of Oregon is USC, UCLA and Utah. Utah is about to go to Eugene subsequent week.
Washington, in the meantime, is now 8-2 general and 5-2 in Pac-12 play. The Huskies have Colorado and Washington State remaining on their schedule and are nonetheless in play to get to the convention title recreation.