Oregon 46, Michigan State 27, Mariota Leads Ducks to Win Over Spartans

At halftime the Oregon Ducks were down 24-18 to the Michigan State Spartans. Michigan State would add a field goal before Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota showed through his footwork and the air why he is a Heisman Trophy Candidate. Passing and in some cases running for first downs. He brought the Oregon Ducks back after the Michigan State Spartans shut down the Oregon Ducks Running Game in the first half. Oregon had fourteen attempts for thirteen yards in the first thirty minutes. Michigan State and Connor Cook would fight, but the Autzen Crowd of over fifty-four thousand stole away the momentum.

So did Marcus Mariota. In the first half, Oregon had fourteen attempts on the ground for a total of thirteen yards. Oregon was able to come back and have a huge second half for a total of one-hundred seventy three yards on the ground. Helping that cause on the scoreboard was Freshman Royce Freeman who had two touchdowns against Michigan State. He has  played two games for Oregon and had four touchdowns total. Two last week against South Dakota and two Saturday against the Spartans. The Oregon Defense held their own in the second half causing Michigan State QB Connor Cook to be more mobile in the pocket at times and miss his targets, but the star of the game was Mariota.

He took over in the second half and with a mix of footwork and passing led the Oregon Ducks to victory over the number seven team in the country. Oregon was also bitten by the injury bug to start the second half when Lineman Andre Yruretayogoyena, filling in for the injured Tyler Johnstone went down with an injury. He was taken off the field on a cart, but was standing before getting on the cart.

In a game where every play mattered and stamina in the second half was a question, Oregon answered. In the end the Spartans could not keep up with the Oregon Ducks attack. Oregon now prepares for Wyoming, who comes to Autzen next weekend. Kickoff is early, set for 11am on Pac-12 Nerworks.

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