#2 Oregon Rips Wyoming 48-14 to Wrap Up Non Conference Play
Salem News Journal Sports
Second-ranked Oregon allowed an early touchdown but then scored 41 straight points to beat Wyoming and enter Pac-12 play next week with a 3-0 record.
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota totaled four touchdowns in little more than two quarters of play. Photo Courtesy: goducks.com
September 14, 2014, 6:10 am
(EUGENE, Ore. ) — The second-ranked Oregon Ducks shook off a sluggish start to overcome an early deficit and wrap up nonconference play unbeaten after a 48-14 victory over Wyoming in Autzen Stadium on Saturday.
How it Happened:
A Pac-12 Networks telecast necessitated an 11:00 a.m. PT kickoff time, and for a spell it seemed like Oregon had decided to sleep in.
The Cowboys converted 5-of-6 third-down attempts on their first two possessions, sandwiched around the Ducks failing to score from their own 2-yard line. That helped Wyoming take an early 7-0 lead, but ordered soon was restored and the Ducks scored the next 41 points unanswered.
Who Stood Out:
Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others, including a leaping, somersaulting effort in the second quarter to put the Ducks ahead 20-7. He was on the move several times throughout the game, as the offensive line adjusted to the early loss of left tackle Jake Fisher due to injury. That put walk-on junior Matt Pierson in at left tackle, on a day when true freshman Tyrell Crosby made his first career start at right tackle. Defensively, safety Erick Dargan had two more interceptions, the first of which set up Mariota's acrobatic touchdown.
What it Means:
The Ducks (3-0) remained unbeaten through nonconference play, knocking off South Dakota, Michigan State and Wyoming. The red flag entering the Pac-12 gantlet will be depth at offensive tackle, as the Ducks were without Fisher, Tyler Johnstone, Andre Yruretagoyena and Elijah George due to leg injuries as of Saturday.
Odds and ends:
Mariota threw a touchdown pass for the 29th straight game, every appearance of his career. … Redshirt freshman Chris Seisay made his first career start. Senior Troy Hill suited up but did not appear, after playing through a knee issue last week against the Spartans. … The crowd of 56,533 gave Oregon its 99th consecutive sellout.
Next Up:
The No. 2 Ducks (3-0) open Pac-12 play next Saturday in Pullman, Wash., when they take on Washington State at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.
No. 2 Oregon vs. Wyoming - Postgame Notebook:
• Marcus Mariota extended his streak of games with at least one passing touchdown to 29 - every game of his career - which is the second-longest current streak in the FBS.
• Erick Dargan had two interceptions, giving him three on the season and nine for his career. He is Oregon’s active career leader in picks with nine.
• Mariota has now run for and passed for a touchdown in 13 of his 29 career games.
• Mariota rushed for two touchdowns for the second time in his career.
• Mariota became the fourth Oregon quarterback to pass for 7,000 yards in a career.
• Oregon amassed 340 yards on 29 first-down plays with Mariota at QB.
• The Ducks have not had a 100-yard rusher through the first three games this season. The last time UO went three consecutive games was in 2011 vs. Auburn (BCS Championship Game), LSU and Nevada.
• Kani Benoit scored his first career rushing touchdown, giving the Ducks six different players with at least one rushing TD.
• Johnathan Loyd, who spent the past four years a Oregon’s point guard on the basketball team, scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard recaption.
• UO’s team completion percentage of 80.6% (25-of-31) was the second-highest since 2005.
• The Ducks won the first-ever meeting between Oregon and Wyoming. With the win, UO improved to 52-18-1 against the Mountain West Conference.
• Mark Helfrich improved to 10-0 at Autzen Stadium, the second-longest unbeaten streak to start an Oregon coaching career behind Chip Kelly’s 18.
• The crowd of 56,533 marked the 99th consecutive sellout at Autzen Stadium.
Source: goducks.com
Roxy Bernstein and Glenn Parker of Pac-12 Networks break down Oregon's lopsided 48-14 victory over visiting Wyoming on Saturday in Eugene.
