Vernon Adams Return Sparks Oregon Ducks Offense In Win Over Washington Huskies

The Oregon Ducks entered the game with the Washington Huskies on Saturday and appeared all business before the game. Not only did Vernon Adams return to the Starting role, but Wide Receiver Darren Carrington, who has been out this season following a five game suspension from a failed drug test from the College Football Playoff from last season. Could Oregon regain their identity on Offense with Adams at the helm? Can the Oregon Defense stand up and make some plays against the Washington Offense?

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Adams return should be a welcomed sight for Oregon fans, but time will tell how effective he can be. As kickoff approached eleven straight victories in the series for the Ducks comes to mind, can they make it twelve in a row? Washington would win the coin toss and defer and it would not take long for Adams to show his finger is healthy.

His first pass was to Dwayne Stanford for thirty-seven yards. Three plays later it was another long pass to Wide Receiver Darren Carrington. It was a nice welcome back for both as the Ducks took a 6-0 lead after a failed two point conversion. Washington would look to answer.

Juwaan Williams helped on several plays as the Oregon Ducks Defense stopped the Huskies on their opening drive of the game that ended
in a punt. Washington Quarterback was 4 for 5 for 28 yards on their first drive of the game before it stalled. Oregon did not have much luck on their next drive as Adams would not get much done and Ian Wheeler would punt from inside the five yard line. A penalty on Washington negated the punt and gave life back to the Oregon Ducks with a first down.

After the first down, Washington would recover a fumble from Running Back Royce Freeman, but the Oregon Running Back was down. It was reviewed and confirmed, the Ducks would pick up with 2nd down and Freeman would again get the ball. The drive would end as Adams missed Devon Allen on third and seven and the Ducks would punt.

Oct 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) participates in pre game warmups against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Running Back Myles Gaskin would make an appearance and pick up 35 giving Washington life, but Henry Mondeux would get his third sack of the year on Jake Browning forcing a fourth down and a Huskies punt. Gaskin showed what he can bring to this game if he is not able to be contained. It is still early in the game. The Oregon Ducks would get the ball back with Freeman and Adams getting their groove back.

1st Quarter Quick Take:

It is clear what an important player Vernon Adams is to this team. From the throws to the tempo it appeared from the start in the opening drive that his finger is healthy as he had two long passes, one to Darren Carrington, who returns to Oregon tonight for the first time since last season. It was 6-0 Oregon after the first quarter. Devon Allen almost had a pass from Adams that would have kept a drive alive. It also appears that Washington has a Quarterback that can play. Jake Browning is six for seven for thirty-five yards in the first quarter. Oregon has 114 yards passing so far.

The second quarter would begin and Vernon Adams would be sacked by the Huskies forcing a punt. Browning and the Huskies would not have answer on their next drive. The Oregon Ducks would again get the ball. After several punts between both teams, Oregon would get the ball at the Washington 48 yard line as Adams would again take the field.

Oregon Ducks Running Back Taj Griffin would end ensuing drive taking the ball into the end zone after Adams used his footwork to get a pass on third down to Darren Carrington to keep the drive alive. Adams showed he can be deadly accurate. Most of his misses are due to his receivers not being able to hold onto the ball, but they are between the numbers.

Browning would lead Washington on their best drive of the game against Oregon, but a penalty would make it 2nd and 20 from the Oregon 30 yard line. The Huskies would convert and get it 3rd and 3. The Washington QB would be sacked forcing a field goal attempt. Van Winkle would hit a 40 yard field goal putting the Huskies on the board, but Oregon would get the ball back with one minute left in the first half. Adams would be sacked at the Oregon forty yard line, but on the next play would unload a pass caught by Bralon Addison inside the 15 yard line of Washington.

After an issue with play calling from the booth it appeared Oregon was about to score another touchdown, but with six seconds left in the half, the Oregon Ducks were forced to take a field goal. They would take a 16-3 lead into the locker room at halftime with the Huskies getting the ball to start the second half.

To start the second half, Washington will also get back their leading tackler Azeem Victor who was coming back from a suspension. The kickoff rolled into the end zone for a touchback. Jake Browning would work Washington down the field with some nice passes down the middle and to the sideline. The Huskies would find themselves with a 1st down inside the 15 and DeForest Buckner and Alex Balducci would come on two consecutive downs resulting in sacks on Browner, pushing the Huskies to the edge of field goal range. Van Winkle would hit a career long 46 yarder making it 16-6 Oregon.

Oct 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Alex Balducci (56) and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (44) sack Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

The Oregon Ducks would strike back as Vernon Adams would again get the team down field with the help of several big runs by Royce Freeman. He would find Darren Carrington in the end zone for a touchdown from nine yards out extending the Ducks lead to 23-6 as the Ducks began to pull away from the Huskies midway through the third quarter.

Royce Freeman would pick up his fifth 100 yard game of the year and the 11th of his career before the end of the third quarter. Gaskin would make some noise of his own for Washington before the end of the third quarter with a 71 yard touchdown run pulling the Huskies within ten points. Bralon Addison had his own idea about Gaskin’s run.

The Oregon Junior would return the kickoff 90 yards setting up the Ducks for another score as the third quarter came to an end. The Washington Huskies would watch Adams pass down the middle again to Darren Carrington and Washington Defender Brian Clay was called for targeting for leading with his helmet. Clay was ejected from the game. Four plays later the Oregon Ducks would tack on a field goal to make it 26-13.

Washington would score on a pass from Browning to Mickens with under four minutes left pulling the Huskies within 6 points at 26-20. Oregon would have to burn some clock to close out the game, and Washington would kick the ball away back to the Ducks with 3:35 to go. Washington had one time out remaining in the game.

Oregon would give the ball to their workhorse, Royce Freeman to run down the clock. Washington would call their timeout with 2:20 remaining. For the second game in a row, Oregon found themselves in a game that could come down to the final play. Adams would throw on third down stopping the clock and Washington would get the ball with 1:11 on the clock.

Ugo Amadi would end the Washington threat with an interception in the end. The Oregon Ducks extended their win streak to twelve against the Huskies with the win.

Oregon racked up 442 yards of Offense and 170 yards on the ground. It was huge to have Quarterback Vernon Adams back on the field and Wide Receiver Darren Carrington made his presence felt bringing in two touchdowns for the Ducks. Mark Helfrich now has his team entering a bye week at 2-2 in the Pac-12 Conference.

The Oregon Ducks next face Arizona State on the road a week from Thursday. (7:30pm PT, ESPN)

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