Oregon(4-4, 1-4) fell to UCLA(4-3, 2-2 Pac-12) on Saturday 31-14, but the Offense showed promise with Braxton Burmeister and Royce Freeman took his place in Ducks History.
UCLA won the coin toss and the Oregon Football Defense was ready. The Ducks forced a three and out to open the game. The Bruins punted 62 yards. Dillon Mitchell muffed the punt, but Oregon recovered at the 3-yard line where Braxton Burmeister would start.
Running Back Royce Freeman rumbled 15 yards for the Ducks first play of the game. Four plays later Darrian Felix fumbled the ball and UCLA took over. The Bruins completed their first fourth and short and another get a second fourth down conversion and be the first to score. UCLA 7, Oregon 0
Braxton Burmeister started the Ducks next drive with a run himself, followed by a run by Royce Freeman. Tony Brooks-James was not available for the game, which may be why Darrian Felix saw early action for Oregon. Freeman again got the ball on third down and a very predictable Oregon Offense was again showing itself forcing a three and out for Oregon. The Ducks would punt.
Josh Rosen took a little longer on their second drive and found Christian Pabico for a 31-yard touchdown giving UCLA a 14-0 lead. It was Rosen’s seventh straight pass.The Bruins, just like Washington State and Stanford know what Oregon is going to do. Burmeister will have to throw the ball.
A milestone started the second half for Oregon Football as on the third play of the first drive Running Back Royce Freeman broke the 5,000 yard mark for his career for the Ducks. He becomes just the 22nd player in College Football to hit the mark. The drive would end off a Burmeister sack, but te Bruins Sepcial Teams would catch the ball inside the 5 yard line.
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Oregon was winning the third down battle going 4 for 8 and holding Rosen and UCLA to 1 for 6 on third down entering the third quarter. The Bruins would get to the Ducks 30 yard line and the Defense would hold them to a field goal. 17-14 UCLA.
The Ducks used a healthy dose of Royce Freeman who picked up two first downs on the next drive before stalling and result in a punt.
UCLA would find themselves at their 30 yard line with a 3rd Down and Pavicho caught the ball downfield for a first down putting the ball at the Oregon 20. On the next play the Bruins scored making it 24-14 with just over 3 minutes to go in the third quarter
The Bruins Defense saw their second takeaway of the game. Bernard Samuel snatched the ball down field on third down off a throw from Burmeister to Dillon Mitchell. The Oregon Defense would need a takeaway or a stop as the Third Quarter came to an end.
The Oregon Defense would do their job forcing a Bruins punt and Oregon took over at their own 35 down 10 points.
Oregon could find little momentum using Freeman and Burmeister and turned the ball over on a failed 4th down conversion The Ducks gave the ball back to Rosen and UCLA at their 40-yard line. The Bruins wore down the Ducks Defense to get to inside the 10-yard line. A touchdown would mean a lot of work, coming back from 17 down. A field goal would be more manageable, but still tough with under 10 minutes left in the game.
Rosen was on point on third down as the Bruins added another touchdown to make it 31-14.
Royce Freeman carried his way into the history books on the next drive surpassing LaMichael James at the top of the Oregon Football Record Books. The drive stalled and Willie Taggart went to his Field Goal Kicker Aiden Schneider. He missed, kicking wide right giving the ball back to the Bruins with just over 5 minutes left in the game.
In the end, it was a good and a bad day for Oregon. The Oregon Offense showed more spirit and Braxton Burmeister showed he can get the job done. Two UCLA Takeaways helped the Bruins cause. The Oregon Defense struggled in the fourth quarter, likely because they spent a good part of the game on the field.
Oregon will face the return of Darren Carrington and Utah next week returning to Autzen Stadium. (2:45 pm PT, Pac-12 Network)