It was a special night for Arizona State as they honored the memory of Pat Tillman, but the Sun Devils have lost to the Oregon Ducks for the last eight games between the two teams. The Oregon Ducks won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff on Salute To Service Night. Charles Nelson would get the ball out to the 30 yard line where Oregon would start.
Vernon Adams would waste no time getting the Offense started with a quick pass to Evan Bayliss for a first down followed by a pass to Darren Carrington inside the Arizona State 10 yard line. That was as far as they would get as they settled for an Aiden Schneider 22 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
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Arizona State picked up 28 yards of Offense which ended in an incomplete pass from Quarterback Mike Bercovici who went 0-1 on the Sun Devils first drive forcing a punt. Oregon would go three and out on their next possession.
Arizona State would work the blitz on the Ducks next possession collecting Quarterback Vernon Adams for a loss. On the next play, Running Back Royce Freeman broke free for 64 yards and a touchdown giving the Ducks a 10-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first quarter. It marked the second consecutive season that Freeman would run for over 1000 yards. He is just the fourth Oregon player to complete the feat.
The Sun Devils worked their way down the field to a first and goal, but the Oregon Defense held and Tyree Robinson with a play on third down kept the Sun Devils honest, but they missed a field goal attempt to get points on the board.
1st Quarter Synopisis
Oregon had more yards in the first quarter (149 to 120). The Ducks had three first downs and 10 points, Arizona State had seven first downs and a missed field goal attempt. The Oregon Defense stepped up when ASU was in the red zone. Royce Freeman had a 64 yard run for a score. The Sun Devils had yet to show movement on Offense.
The second quarter would begin with two incompletions and a long third and fourteen that would be completed by Gary Chambers for a first down. Alex Balducci would end the threat with a sack of Bercovici and Arizona State would miss another field goal, this one from 53 yards. It was still 10-0 Oregon.
Devon Lucien would get the Sun Devils on the board with a touchdown pass from Mike Bercovici following a solid march down the field and an eight play 80 yard drive on the Oregon Ducks Defense. The Oregon Offense had plenty of time to rest and they would respond with a drive of their own.
Oct 29, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington (7) catches a 39 yard touchdown during the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Oregon Ducks would answer. Two weeks ago against Washington the Vernon Adams to Darren Carrington connection was born. So was the third down completion for the Ducks. On Thursday night, the connection would continue, but this time it was 4th and 1 and Adams found Carrington wide open for a 39 yard touchdown before the half giving Oregon a 10 point lead. The touchdown also extended Oregon’s Streak of now 76 consecutive games with a touchdown pass, the current FBS record.
DeForest Bucker would leave the field leaving his teammates to play without their leader on defense. Arizona State would work down the field as Bercovici would find Gary Chambers down the sideline for a touchdown making it 17-14 Oregon.
Arizona State would have a shot before halftime to add a field goal, but would it would not be good. Zane Gonzalez would miss three field goals in the first half. The Sun Devils would receive the kickoff to start the second half.
Oregon Ducks Defensive End DeForest Buckner would return in the first Defensive series of the second half for Oregon, but Arizona State would again pick up first downs and work their way down the field. Oregon Cornerback Arrion Springs appeared to injure his ankle during the series and Arizona State would pick up first and 10 from the 15. The Oregon Defense would again hold putting the ball on the leg of their kicker that was 0-3 on the night. Gonzalez would knock it through tying the game at 17.
Vernon Adams would be intercepted by Kareem Orr off a pass that was tipped by his receiver. On the next play the
Ducks would sack Sun Devils Quarterback Mike Bercovici and there would be a scramble for a loose ball. ASU would recover. After missing several passes, Arizona State would go for it on 4th down. As a team they have hit 50 percent of their 4th down conversions on the season. Rodney Hardrick would be called for Defensive holding giving Arizona State a first down and they would take advantage. Demario Richard would cap off a four play 41 yard drive with a touchdown giving the Sun Devils the lead 24-17 over Oregon.
What started as a promising drive where Oregon would get to first and goal would see Vernon Adams backed up at the 20 yard line and the Ducks taking a 37 yard field goal to cut into the Sun Devils lead 24-20. Adams missed a cross pass almost throwing an interception. Dwayne Stanford was called for Offensive pass interference on the drive.
Arizona State would extend their lead on the next drive as Mike Bercovici calmly lead the team down the field and Caleb Jones provided some running room as the Sun Devils found the end zone, but Charles Nelson would not let the 11 point lead last too long.
Nelson would take the ensuing kickoff return 100 yards for a touchdown putting the Ducks just four points behind again. Arizona State would get the ball back and Oregon would again hold as third down would turn to fourth down on a sack by DeForest Buckner. It would be the Ducks fifth sack of Bercovici on the night getting the ball back for Vernon Adams and the Oregon Offense.
Kani Benoit put Oregon back on top with a 62 yard run down the sideline to the end zone. It was a back and forth game with shifting momentum and there was still 90 seconds left in the third quarter. Defensive End DeForest Buckner would again leave the game with about a minute left in the third quarter.
Arizona State would add a field goal to start the 4th quarter tying the game at 34 and a touchdown to again take the lead 41-34. The Oregon Offense appeared to go to sleep not running the ball with Royce Freeman who had under 10 carries on the night to that point. Reggie Daniels had two key plays on the drive stopping possible touchdowns before Kody Kohl scored six from Bercovici making his fourth touchdown of the night.
Vernon Adams would escape a sack on third down on the Ducks next drive and what should have been a sixty-seven yard touchdown pass to his favorite target Darren Carrington ended up being a dropped pass giving the ball back to Arizona State who went right back to work with back to back first downs.
Oct 29, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici (2) hands off to running back Demario Richard (4) during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Tyree Robison would end the threat with an interception giving Oregon a chance with five minutes left. Oregon would work the clock and get to 4th and 1 with the game on the line. Third down the ball was given to Royce Freeman who got to the 11 yard line. The Ducks were down 7 points with fifty-seven seconds left in the game.
Freeman would pick up the first down for Oregon. Three plays later it was fourth down and Adams had an opportunity to tie the game.
Dwayne Stanford and Johnny Mundt collided in the endzone and Stanford came out with the ball for a touchdown, but it was Adams who extended the play and made quite a throw across his body to get it to Stanford to tie the game at 41. Arizona State would run out the clock and take the game to overtime.
It was a football game that saw over 1000 yards of Offense and an Oregon team that went 3-3 on 4th down conversions that kept the game alive and get it to OT. Oregon would face overtime for the second time this season and would go on Offense first.
Stanford would take a pass from Adams on the first play of Overtime for Oregon giving the Ducks a 48-41 lead, but Arizona State would have a chance. Bercovici would give Arizona State a fresh set of downs by getting to the nine yard line. Arizona State would answer to get to double overtime.
Bercovici would take it into the endzone in double overtime for his sixth touchdown of the night, it was up to the Oregon Ducks and Vernon Adams to answer. Royce Freeman would pick up the yards, but Vernon Adams would take the ball into the end zone. The call was reviewed and he was down just outside the end zone as the Ducks would get the ball at first and goal. Royce Freeman would finish off the drive with a touchdown. It at 55 all and triple overtime meant no more extra points.
Vernon Adams would throw a pass to Bralon Addison in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Oregon would use a trick play to go for two with Addison at Quarterback and he would the sacked. The two point conversion was no good for Oregon giving Arizona State a chance. They would have to score a touchdown first.
Arrion Springs would intercept a Bercovici in the endzone and Oregon would win the game 61-55.
Arizona State had over 720 yards of Offense. The game had five lead changes and five ties, and the Ducks were on the winning end to get to 5-3. It was hard fought for Oregon and Vernon Adams had another night where he was able to play the invisible man and get away from tacklers. It was the ninth straight win for Oregon over Arizona State.
Oregon now has ten days to prepare for the Cal Bears and another night kickoff set for 7:30pm Pacific Time Saturday November 7th on ESPN.