Pacific Football Game Report
Saturday September 14th 2013 3:30PM EST
Autzen Stadium - Eugene, Oregon
@
Pacific Tigers @ Oregon Ducks
0-3 | 3-0
7 | FINAL | 13
CB JAY'ONN MYLES PICKS OFF A JAKE RODRIGUES PASS
Pacific hangs in Eugene but can't close out the Ducks
Eugene, Oregon - "Close doesn't count!" Pacific defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan shouted as he slammed a fist on the table before exiting the post game press conference. The outburst was in response to what seemed like the 100th question regarding any sort of good feelings surrounding such a close loss. Bresnahan had answered several prior versions of the question by saying that even close loses are still losses.
With Marcus Mariota out due to an injury Bresnahan felt his team had a good chance at pressuring redshirt freshman QB Jake Rodrigues into mistakes. Rodrigues completed 50% of his 28 pass attempts for 204 yards and a touchdown and was intercepted twice in the game.
While Rodrigues' play left a lot to be desired he made plays when they were needed, including a 29 yard completion to Josh Huff on fourth and six with 1:12 left in the game. Oregon was able to run out the clock following that play and hold on for the narrow win. Oregon had lined up for a field goal but a false start backed them up out of field goal range and they elected to go for it.
The game with Pacific quarterback Andrew McDonald throwing an interception in the redzone to put a stop to their first possession. Jay'Onn Myles picked off Rodrigues inside the Pacific five yard line on the Ducks first possession and returned it to the Oregon 48. Nine plays later McDonald was intercepted in the Oregon endzone.
Following stalled possessions for each team Oregon put the first points of the game on the board when Rodrigues connected with Huff for a 13 yard score midway through the second quarter.
Kris Gudmundsson badly missed a 46 yard field goal attempt later in the quarter. Pacific linebacker Arvis Price III picked off Rodrigues on the eighth play of the Ducks ensuing drive and Oregon maintained their 7-0 lead at the break.
Oregon kicker Alejandro Maldonado connected from 35 yards out to make it 10-0 on Oregon's first second half possession.
Pacific cut into the lead with a 10 play drive that covered 83 yards and culminated in a 29 yard McDonald touchdown pass to Darrin Duncan who ran past his defender and caught a perfectly placed ball over his right shoulder on the left sideline.
Oregon punted. Pacific punted. Oregon turned the ball over on a fumble. Pacific punted.
With 4:21 left in the game Oregon made it 13-7 with an 18 yard field goal by Maldonado.
Pacific punted. Oregon punted.
With 1:56 left to play McDonald took a big hit on a sack. He badly missed open receivers on the next two plays and Pacific turned the ball over on downs.
Coach Fassel was asked about McDonald and if he should have come out of the game to which he simply replied "I don't know, I didn't think he was hurt. He didn't indicate he was hurt."
On fourth and just over one from the Pacific 33 yard line Oregon lined up for what would be a 50 yard pass. Following a false start that moved them back to the 38 yard line they decided to go for it. Rodrigues took the snap, moved to his right and stepped up in the pocket before hitting Josh Huff for a gain of 29 yards down inside the 12 yard line. Oregon then ran the clock out.
McDonald settled down somewhat after the pair of interceptions, finishing the game 19 of 38 for 198 yards and a touchdown. Nothing much happened in the running game with the team picking up just 72 yards on 34 rushes. Braden Bishop led the team with 51 yards on four receptions.
Oregon rolled up 407 yards of offense with near perfect balance, 203 on the ground and 204 through the air.
Media Gallery
OREGON SAFETY BRIAN JACKSON PICKS OFF A MCDONALD PASS EARLY ON
DITTO
BRADEN BISHOP GETS POPPED, FORCING AN INCOMPLETION
JOSH HUFF SCORES A TD WHILE PACIFIC DEFENDERS LOOK FOR A CONTACT LENS
ARVIS PRICE III PICKS OFF A PASS
DARRIN DUNCAN CATCHES A PERFECTLY PLACED PASS FROM MCDONALD
DUNCAN GETS TO THE ENDZONE
HUFF CONVERTS A FOURTH DOWN TO CLOSE OUT THE GAME
Scoring
P|00|00|07|00|07
O|00|07|03|03|13
2Q O Huff 13 Yd pass from Rodrigues (Maldonado kick)
3Q O Maldonado 35 Yd FG
3Q P Duncan 29 Yd pass from McDonald (Gudmundsson kick)
4Q O Maldonado 17 Yd FG
Key Stats
Passing: McDonald 19/38 198 1TD 2Int, Francis Jr 1/1 14, Carr 0/1
Rushing: Muhammad 13/38, Hall 9/29
Receiving: Bishop 4/51, Duncan 3/47 1TD, Muhammad 5/39, Tober 3/32, Freeman 2/28
Tackles: Myles 8, Fletcher 6
Sacks: Hunt 1
Takeaways: Myles 1Int, Price 1Int, Burrell 1FR
Special Teams: Gudmundsson 0/1FG 1/1XP, Mata 3P 101Yds, Fenton 3KR 53Yds 2PR 25Yds
Passing: Rodrigues 14/28 204 1TD 2Int
Rushing: Thomas 17/130, Marshall 9/24, Rodrigues 9/24
Receiving: Huff 6/110 1TD, Thomas 3/42, Hawkins 1/21
Tackles: Armstead 7, Jackson 7, Keliikipi 7, Malone 7
Sacks: Hart 1, Patterson 1
Takeaways: Jackson 2Int
Special Teams: Maldonado 2/2FG 1/1XP, Ausherman 3P 110Yds, Thomas 1KR 20Yds, Marshall 1KR 25Yds