Oregon Ducks Dominant In Bowl Eligible Win Over Cal Bears

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The Oregon Ducks faced Cal on a cool evening in Eugene with off and on showers expected throughout the game. One thing that was announced pregame was that Public Address Announcer Don Essig would miss the game due to illness. If it was going to rain at Autzen Stadium, tonight was the night to do it. Cal would win the coin toss and defer and Oregon would begin with the ball on their own 27.

Oregon would get a few yards on their first drive but would punt. The punt was blocked by Jonanthan Johnson netting a five yard punt and giving Cal the ball on the Ducks 38 yard line. Cal Quarterback Jared Goff would go deep right from the get go, but Oregon Cornerback Arrion Springs had a better shot at the ball for an incomplete pass. The Bears would work their way to first and goal. Second and Goal saw the first touchdown of the game as Cal found Wide Receiver Stephen Anderson in the end zone giving the Bears a 7-0 lead.

The Oregon Ducks found their composure and worked their way with runs from Royce Freeman and Taj Griffin to get to first and goal. A pass intended for Devon Allen was intercepted in the end zone ending the Ducks scoring threat and giving the ball back to Cal at the 25 yard line with a 7-0 lead. Jared Goff was already off to a 3 for 6 start with a touchdown.

Running Back Vic Enware would take a first down to the 49 yard line followed by another Cal 12 yard gain for a first down. It appeared that the Bears were playing at the Oregon Ducks pace as they worked their way down the field. Trevor Davis would pick up a 27 yard gain on a pass from Goff as the first downs continued to rack up for the Bears. Two plays later, Oregon would bring pressure forcing fourth down and a field goal attempt. Cal would take the lead 10-0 on the Ducks. It was a nine play, seventy yard drive for the Golden Bears. Jared Goff was efficient to this point going 3 for 3 on third down.

Oregon would counter with one of the most poised drives I have seen from Vernon Adams in the pocket all season at home. The drive would end with Adams being pushed out of bounds at the 30 yard line and Aiden Schneider would knock through a 40 yard field goal putting the Ducks on the board 10-3.
Cal would get the ball at the 25, but would go no where bringing up third down. It was the first third down of the game that the Golden Bears did not convert as they punted on 4th down. Oregon would start 1st and 10 from their own 35 yard line.

Nov 7, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; California Golden Bears running back Daniel Lasco (2) is tackled by Oregon Ducks linebacker Christian French (96) and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (44) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Penalties would come into play on the next Oregon Drive. 15 yards worth that would ultimately see a long completion Darren Carrington for 38 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Adams would take it ten yards with an exclamation point flip past the goal line into the end zone for the score tying the game at 10. It was an 8 play 65 yard drive for Oregon capped by a 37 yard pass and the scoring run by Adams.

Cal Quarterback Jared Goff and the Bears would get the ball back, but on the drive would look very out of sync with his Wide Receivers. He was wearing a glove, but it appeared as though he was having a problem with his hand. Something to watch for the rest of the game. Oregon would get the ball after a three and out and a Golden Bears punt and look to take the lead.

Oregon would not take long to take advantage. After a run by Royce Freeman where he made two defenders miss for a 19 yard gain, Adams found himself improvising once again. He would find Bralon Addison on the left side of the field for a 31 yard pass that ended up seeing Addison make a move into the end zone giving the Ducks a 17-10 lead. It also marked the 72nd straight game that Oregon had a touchdown pass which is the current NCAA Record.
Cal would get some yards on Oregon penalties on the next drive and go for it on 4th and 4 following a hands to the face penalty. Oregon kept the Bears on their side of the field on the drive and again Goff looked uncomfortable at times getting rid of the ball. Cal would punt 21 yards giving Oregon the ball at the 32.

It would take one play of 17 yards to give Oregon Running Back Royce Freeman to get to 100 yards on the night with over 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Devon Allen would catch a pass from Adams taking the ball to the Cal 28 yard line. Adams would again go to the left side of the end zone and pick up a pass interference call on Cal putting the ball on the 12 yard line. On the next play Adams would again have plenty of time to survey the field and find Dwayne Stanford in the end zone for a touchdown extending the Ducks lead to 24-10 over Cal.

Nov 7, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; California Golden Bears cornerback Darius Allensworth (2) is unable to stop Oregon Ducks wide receiver Bralon Addison (2) from scoring a touchdown at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks Wide Receiver Bralon Addison would add another score adding another 75 yards of Offense. It was halftime and Oregon had rolled up over 400 yards of Offense on Cal. The Oregon Defense did their job and did it well in the first half allowing just over 100 yards through the air. Vernon Adams was 13 for 19 throwing for 210 yards and three touchdowns and had the Oregon Ducks rolling in the first half. The Offensive Line opened holes for Royce Freeman who ripped off several big gains over fifteen yards. The second half would see Cal start with the ball.

The Bears would begin by going backwards with a penalty before Jared Goff would roll off a 57 yard explosion play giving the Bears a first down, but DeForest Bucker would find Goff in the backfield for a sack and a 17 yard loss two plays later. With the sack Cal would kick a 48 yard field goal. Oregon’s lead was 31-13.

Cal would take over after an Adams to Devon Allen pass that was clearly interference on the Bears that was not called. Following a blocked Ian Wheeler punt, Cal took over at the Oregon 45 yard line. Enwere would pick up 22 yards to the Oregon 18 yard line and threaten again. Oregon would again force a 4th down and a Cal would go for it picking up a touchdown. Enwere would put Cal on the board with just over six minutes left in the first half. The Bears would go for two points and Goff would get it to make it 31-21 Oregon Ducks leaving fans who were elated after the first half, uneasy following this drive.

It would not take long for that feeling to go away as Adams found Darren Carrington for a 43 yard gain followed by a first down pickup from Royce Freeman on the ground getting the ball to the Cal 19 yard line. Adams would then use his feet to get 9 yards bringing up 2nd and short. Running Back Royce Freeman would add a first down and it was first and goal from the 6. The drive would stall following two plays to Freeman up the middle with losses on two consecutive plays leading to an Aiden Schneider field goal putting the Ducks up 34-21.

Entering the game the California Golden Bears were the second ranked passing offense in the Pac-12 and were still within striking distance with just over a quarter to play, but Rodney Hardrick would keep the play in front of him on second down forcing another third down play for the Bears. Trevor Davis could not haul in a third down pass following an Arrion Springs breakup and the Bears would punt back to the Ducks.

Oregon would waste no time starting the 4th Quarter. Adams would hit Charles Nelson on the right side of the end zone with a 20 yard pass pretty much putting the game away and the home team up 20 points, 41-21.

It was a complete game win for the Oregon Ducks in all facets of the game. The Offensive Line was physical allowing Adams time to do pretty much anything he wanted all night. The holes were big enough for Royce Freeman to run though and the Oregon Defense found their most complete game of the year. They had some big plays, but overall forced Cal into fourth downs that ended in punts rather than first down conversions. DeForest Buckner was a hassle up front most of the night for Cal QB Jared Goff.

A quick look at the stats saw Oregon Ducks Quarterback Vernon Adams throw for five touchdowns on the night leading Oregon to their best Offensive Yardage ever at 777 yards. The Ducks piled up 477 yards on the ground and 300 through the air while limiting the Cal Bears to 329 yards through the air, the majority coming in the second half. The first half saw the Ducks hold the Bears to 129 yards passing. Oregon also held Cal on third down to just six completions on fifteen attempts while Vernon Adams kept plays alive completing 10 of 17 attempts on third down.

For Oregon to be successful next week on the road they will have to thrive on third down as they have the last few weeks. Adams play has led to three straight wins for this team. The Ducks Defense also appears to be getting a little bit better every week with Arrion Springs having a good night on Saturday with three breakups to his credit.

With the win, Oregon becomes bowl eligible and will begin preparations for the Stanford Cardinal on Sunday.

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