Oregon Football: CJ Verdell Helps Ducks Run Past Washington State
The Washington State Cougars cheered with a minute to go after taking the lead, but Justin Herbert and Camden Lewis had other ideas winning 37-35.
Oregon Football was undefeated in the Pac-12 when the evening started and they hoped it would remain that way at the end of the night. Oregon win the opening coin toss and was first on offense.
The first drive for the Oregon Ducks saw some movement and a nice run by Quarterback Justin Herbert but ultimately ended in a punt after Herbert was sacked for a loss. Not a good start against a team that was ready to air it out.
Washington State’s third play of the game was a 28 yard gain to the Oregon 32 yard line. The Cougars were at the three-yard line, but back to back penalties made it 1st and 23. The Ducks Defense did heir job along with a loud Autzen Stadium crowd. The Cougars Kicker Blake Mazza hit a 36-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
Oregon would get further than they did on their first drive with their next possession ending in a Camden Lewis 40-yard field goal tying the game at 3.
On the Ducks next drive CJ Verdell scampered past everyone and 89 yards later was in the endzone untouched. Oregon missed the extra point making it 9-3 Ducks.
Washington State worked the ball down the field and Quarterback Anthony Gordon threw an interception off the fingertips of a Cougar Wide Receiver. It was picked off by Verone McKinley III in the end zone and taken to the 6 yard line where the Ducks would take over.
The Cougars would take the lead with 6:59 left in the first half as Max Borghi took the ball in from two yards out. Washington State made the PAT to take a 10-9 lead on Oregon.
Oregon would drive the length of the field and stall on a few penalties, but a targeting call on Utah and offsetting penalties meant a replay of a 3rd and 21. Herbert would be sacked for the third time in the first half forcing the Ducks to punt.
The Ducks Defense would put Washington State in a hole on first down back at their 5 yard line followed by an incomplete pass setting up 3rd and 25. Oregon would get an interception on the next play as Jevon Holland ran the ball back for 19 yards for the score. The Ducks would add a two-point conversion to take a 17-10 lead.
Washington State would score again with 47 seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 17.
Oregon and WSU headed into the locker room tied at 17.
The Cougars would start the third quarter with a bad snap bringing up a 2nd and 25 and an eventual punt back to the Ducks. Oregon would take over from their own 35-yard line. Jaylon Redd picked up the first down on a 12-yard pass from Herbert. CJ Verdell kept the drive alive catching a pass at the Washington State 24 yard line two plays later. Verdell would score three plays later for his second touchdown of the game. Oregon led 24-17 over Washington State.
Washington State would tack on a field goal to make it 24-20 with 2:40 left in the third quarter.
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On the Ducks next drive CJ Verdell would no only cross the 200-yard rushing mark for the game, he would add his third touchdown from one-yard out to make it 31-20 Oregon over Washington State.
Washington State added a 19-yard touchdown with 11:01 left in the 4th quarter. After a successful two-point conversion it was 31-28 Oregon.
Camden Lewis added another field goal extending the Duck lead to 34-28 and Washington State had one more trick up their sleeve. They would tie the game with a minute to go and take the lead on an extra point.
Justin Herbert and Juwan Johnson helped engineer a final drive taking the ball inside the Washington State 10 yard line. Camden Lewis was called on again hitting the game-winning field goal giving Oregon the win 37-35. It was the end of a four-game losing streak to Washington State and also the end of Justin Herbert’s touchdown passing streak, but at the end of the game, he said the win was more important.
CJ Verdell had 257 yards on the ground including an 89 yard run for a touchdown. It was the third-best performance by an Oregon Running Back in team history.
Oregon Football now preps for a trip to USC to take on the Trojans at 5 pm next Saturday on FOX.