Oregon Football: Ducks Dominate Wyoming With Royce Freeman And Ground Game
Royce Freeman scored three touchdowns and the Offensive Line was dominant in a 49-13 win over Wyoming.
Oregon Football took on their first toad test in Wyoming, a team that won eight of their last nine games at home. The Ducks enter the game against a Quarterback with NFL Hype in Josh Allen, but Justin Herbert can have something to say himself on the NFL topic on Saturday in Wyoming.
While Wyoming started with the ball. Arrion Springs brought down Josh Allen on third down in their opening drive. Oregon and Justin Herbert looked poised on the road and scored a touchdown on their first drive. Royce Freeman picked up his seventh score of the season and Charles Nelson had key catches on the opening drive barely touched by the Cowboys Defense.
Josh Allen had nerves to open the game and overthrew his receivers in the first two drives. Oregon forced two three and outs and after a kickoff started at midfield with their second drive of the game.
Through to drives, Wyoming had a total of 3 positive yards.
Oregon Running Back Royce Freeman completed a 50 yard drive with a touchdown. Wyoming was unable to cover the Ducks Wideouts during the drive and the Senior ran into the endzone for his second score of the 1st Quarter making it 14-0.
The Ducks forced a third three and out, but Charles Nelson muffed the punt return giving the ball back to Wyoming and allowing Allen another chance to get settled and try and put a scoring drive together. Josh Allen on third down of their third series took the ball into the endzone himself cutting the Ducks lead to 7, 14-7.
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On the next drive, Justin Herbert appeared down, but the ball was knocked out and the ball went to Wyoming. They scored three with a field goal with the Defense holding them on three downs. Following the series, Wide Receiver Charles Nelson left the field with an ankle injury, giving Oregon one less weapon.
The Ducks did not need their most experienced Wideout on their next drive, which was their longest of the day to that point. Herbert was methodical working his way down the field, getting a measurement call after a Freeman run and a made 1st down. Three plays later he called his own number and ran into the endzone scoring the Ducks third rushing touchdown of the afternoon making it 21-10 Oregon.
Josh Allen continued to get the ball toward his Wide Receivers, but the inexperience of the unit was not helping their Quarterback. On third down Jalen Jelks got to Allen on his throwing arm. He walked off the field injured, but was seen throwing on the sideline likely to return.
Oregon went 3 and Out on their next drive and punted for the first time in the game. Josh Allen returned to the field looking to improve his 2 for 11 passing efficiency. Allen and the Cowboys would see another 3 and out.
Oregon found Royce Freeman with just over 7 minutes left in the first half. The Wyoming Defense stacked the box and Freeman scampered 50 yards on third down to give Oregon good field position. Taj Griffin crossed into the endzone after a 7 play, 80 yard drive making the Ducks a perfect 4 for 4 on the scoring chart and pushing the lead to 28-10.
Royce Freeman put in the work on the Ducks next drive capping it off with his third touchdown of the game tying LaMichael James for most all-time at Oregon. Wyoming and Josh Allen entered the final minute of the first half needing a score, but Allen fumbled the ball off a 1st and 10 run with Oregon recovering inside the Wyoming 20 yard line.
Oregon racked up over 340 yards of Offense in the first half. Josh Allen ended the first half 3 for 13 for 13 yards and a touchdown. To add insult to injury, the Oregon Ducks would start the second half with the ball.
Justin Herbert started the Ducks first drive of the second half getting the team down the field and throwing his second interception of the season, a ball that went of the hands of Tony Brooks-James. Wyoming added a field goal and the Ducks saw another 3 and out, with Wyoming blocking the punt and getting good field position near the 50 yardline looking to scratch their way back into a game that was pretty much over.
Wyoming started the 4th Quarter with the ball and some momentum.
AJ Hotchkins picked off Josh Allen to open the final 15 minutes. Justin Herbert handed off to Kani Benoit seven plays later for the Ducks first second half points since Southern Utah and a 49-13 lead.
The Oregon Football Defense had one of their best game of the young season getting to Josh Allen most of the night for hurries, forced quck throws, even a few batted passes. Jim Leavitt had his team ready to play. On the Offensive side, Justin Herbert averaged 9 yards per play, an average that he has kept up through three games this season.
Josh Allen may be an NFL Caliber talent, but it did not show on Saturday. He had a mimimal supporting cast after having key role players last season head to the 2017 NFL Draft.
Head Coach Willie Taggart has his team 3-0 on the season entering Pac-12 Play. In a season filled with unknowns about this team, we are beginning to discover a few things. They have an Offensive Line that knows how to play. Oregon has a Running Game that at times can be lethal and although their Wide Receivers are young, Herbert can get the ball down the field when he needs to.
Next: Oregon Basketball Recruiting: Ducks To Host Maute Bol's Son
Oregon faces a second straight game on the road next week against Arizona State as Pac-12 Play Begins. (Saturday, September 23rd, 7:30pm PT Pac-12 Network)