Mariota's Second Half Magic Saves #2 Oregon from Tough Washington State Squad
Oregon's junior quarterback had just one incompletion after halftime and converted a huge fourth down on the run in the third quarter as the Ducks won Saturday.
(PULLMAN, Wash. ) — Marcus Mariota did it again.
Oregon's junior Heisman Trophy candidate helped will the Ducks to victory Saturday night, keeping the offense moving with two inexperienced starters on the line in a 38-31 victory over Washington State at Martin Stadium. The second-ranked Ducks entered their bye week at 4-0 after winning their Pac-12 opener on the Palouse.
Sacked seven times, more than twice as many as ever before, Mariota put together a brilliant second half that saw him lead the Ducks to victory after the first half was played to a 21-21 tie, and the Cougars tied it again 31-31 midway through the fourth quarter.
Like his flip to Royce Freeman against Michigan State or his tumbling touchdown run against Wyoming, Mariota had a signature moment Saturday, running 28 yards on fourth down in the third quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown. That run was only necessary because of a dropped pass on third down, the only incompletion of the second half for Mariota on a night he finished 21-of-25 for 329 yards and five touchdowns.
Playing behind a line bookended by true freshman Tyrell Crosby on the left and walk-on Matt Pierson on the right due to injuries, Mariota was under pressure all night and sacked five times in the first half alone. The Ducks adjusted their pass protection in the second half to account for Washington State's stunting, and also rolled Mariota out of the pocket to give him time to throw, no more effectively than on the game-winning touchdown drive.
The Ducks as a team displayed remarkable calm before taking the field with the game tied 31-31 and 8:51 to play. Defensive lineman Sam Kamp walked over to the offensive line and delivered a message with steely resolve — "Let's go" — and backup right guard Jake Pisarick clapped a fellow lineman on the shoulder pads to say, "You got this."
Oregon proceeded to drive to the game-winning touchdown over 79 yards in nine plays, two of them rollouts by Mariota for completions of 18 and 17 yards to Byron Marshall. "We were excited," Marshall said. "We haven't had a game like this all season. We accepted the challenge."
Mariota drove the Ducks into the red zone on all five of their second-half possessions. Two resulted in no points, the last because the Ducks took a knee to end the game, and the first on a missed field-goal attempt.
After the UO defense forced a fumble following that miss, Mariota and the offense got another chance, and drove into WSU territory. After his only incompletion of the second half, Mariota tucked the ball and ran for 28 yards, then threw a TD pass on the next play.
"They came out in a quarters look; I was looking through my reads and everybody was running downfield," Mariota said. "I figured I could pick up the 10 yards with my legs."
Mariota finished with 13 carries for a net of 58 yards, which accounted for 48 yards lost on the seven sacks. He didn't have a collision so scary as his flip into the end zone against Wyoming a week earlier, but the seven sacks were four more than Mariota had ever before experienced at Oregon.
"I'll be fine," he said, trusting the strength gains he made in the weight room will help him hold up to the pounding. "That's why we work hard in the offseason. Those guys up front, I trust every single one of them, and we'll be all right."
The Ducks played without tackles Andre Yruretagoyena, who was injured against Michigan State, and Jake Fisher, who was carted off against Wyoming. Crosby and Pierson each were whistled for penalties and beaten for sacks, but the line stepped it up in the second half against a tough WSU defensive front.
"They were very physical," center Hroniss Grasu said. "It seems like every year we play them, they always stay in there with us. But I'm really proud of the guys, the way they fought through adversity. We fought to the end."
Keanon Lowe caught the game-winning touchdown pass, his second of the day, and Devon Allen also caught two scoring passes, his fourth and fifth of the season. "We know it's a game of four quarters," Lowe said. "You've got to match up for all four with us, and we've been in situations like that before. It was just another test for us.
"They came out and gave us their best shot early, and all throughout the game into the fourth quarter. These are the type of wins you see what you're made of — hostile environment, first road trip, lot of young guys — so it was good to face adversity and gut this one out."
Source: goducks.com
Mark Helfrich Post Washington State
Marcus Mariota Post Washington State
