Oregon Football: Ducks Fall In The Desert, 31-28 To Arizona State
Arizona played the clock for the entire game and in the end, the Ducks ran out of time in a 31-28 loss to Arizona State.
Oregon Football took a nine-game losing streak into the desert to face Arizona State. After both teams exchanged possessions, the Ducks struck first with a touchdown by Cyrus Habibi-Likio who took the ball up the middle as Oregon took a 7-0 lead.
One player that the Oregon Defense needed to watch was Arizona State Quarterback Jayden Daniels. While they were able to contain him, Oregon gave up their first explosion play of the season, a 50+ yard pass play for a touchdown for Arizona State. Daniels threw the ball to Frank Darby to tie the game at 7. Arizona State tagged on a field goal before the end of the first half.
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Arizona State was doing a good job of keeping the Oregon offense off the field and just two minutes into the third quarter had a 13-7 lead with another field goal having possessed the ball for over 20 minutes of game time. Oregon needed to answer after putting up just 7 points in the first half.
The Ducks used their experienced offensive line as CJ Verdell saw five straight carries for positive yardage to open their first series of the second half. After picking up yardage on the ground, Herbert took to the air and had a completion to Juwan Johnson followed by several incomplete passes and another three and out series.
Things continued to go in the wrong for Oregon as Justin Herbert threw two interceptions. Both led to points for Arizona State. With just over 8 minutes left in the game, it was 24-7 Arizona State.
Oregon found a spark with a big play from Johnny Johnson III and the second touchdown run of the night by Cyrus Habibi-Likio to pull the Ducks within ten, 24-14, but the clock was not on the Ducks side. Arizona State was outpacing Oregon in time of possession having the ball for over 31 minutes and about to get the ball back.
The Oregon defense was able to force ASU into a three and out and the Ducks Offense would get the ball back with just over 7 minutes left in the game.
Herbert started to find a rhythm as he found Johnny Johnson III over two plays and gained 42 yards to get just outside the ASU redzone. On the next play, Johnny Johnson III scored as the Ducks were down just three with over five minutes left on the clock. It was a three-play, 66-yard drive that took just 43 seconds off the clock.
Arizona State would start their next drive on a delay of game penalty. Two plays later Daniels was sacked by the Ducks Defense rising to the occasion and forcing a third and long. The Sundevils Freshman had one more play up is sleeve and threw a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk to push the lead back to 10 points for Arizona State.
On the next drive, Herbert would again find Johnny Johnson III in the endzone to pull within three again at 31-28. It was again on the Oregon defense. Arizona State continued to play the time of possession game and ran the clock out on the Ducks winning 31-28. The loss for Oregon sent them out of the College Football Playoff conversation, but still in play for the Pac-12 title and the Rose Bowl. Oregon clinched the Pac-12 North title last weekend.
Oregon returns home for the regular-season finale hosting Oregon State in the Civil War next Saturday. Gametime will be announced on Sunday.