On the final day of regular season college football, one of the most storied Pac-12 rivalries met for their first meeting since joining the Big Ten Conference. No.1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) played host to Washington (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) and completed the quest of finishing off a perfect regular season for the first time since 2010 and the second time in program history.
It was a cold, cloudy evening in Eugene, with the temperature hovering just above 30 degrees for the Senior Night game. Oregon started with the football after Washington won the toss and elected to kick. From the very first drive, it was clear that running back Jordan James and the run game would play the main role in the Ducks’ game plan, given the weather conditions.
Oregon ran nine plays in its opening drive — six of them on the ground, with five carries going to James. Noah Whittington capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, and the Ducks were in business.
Washington wasn’t going to back down early. On the Huskies’ first play from scrimmage, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. connected with wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter for a 34-yard gain, setting them up for a potential touchdown drive. However, they stalled at the 10-yard line and had to settle for a field goal. Oregon's defense was phenomenal all night, and this early stand set the tone for the rest of the game.
Both teams would share relatively noncompetitive offensive drives as the first quarter ended with Oregon still leading 7-3.
On the seventh play of Oregon's first drive in the second quarter, Whittington fumbled deep in Oregon’s territory, giving Washington excellent field position and a chance to take the lead while silencing the rowdy Autzen Stadium crowd. That opportunity slipped away as the Ducks’ defense held strong again, even with the Huskies starting at Oregon’s 23-yard line. Washington settled for a field goal, cutting the Ducks' lead to 7-6.
“I am super proud of the defense, the way the attack,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel said. “They came to play today.”
Oregon found itself in an uncomfortable position that it would not be in for long. Its next drive was only four plays and took a mere 1:23 off the clock: a couple of seven-yard runs for James and a 34-yard completion for Traeshon Holden to set up the first of two James touchdown runs in the game. It was a quick response and the Duck offense would find themselves back on the field six seconds after the touchdown.
Washington running back Jonah Coleman took the handoff and looked to get the drive started with positive yardage, something that the Huskies had no success doing all night. Eugene local senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher jarred the football loose resulting in a turnover giving Oregon the football on Washingtons 19-yard line. All season long Boettcher has been a spark plug on defense for Oregon and the team rallies around him.
“What he brings every day is the definition of consistency. He plays the game the right way with
the physicality that’s necessary at his position and the enthusiasm he carries onto the field,” head coach Dan Lanning said. “I’m extremely proud of Bryce, he’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever got to coach just because of how he attacks each day.”
It took two plays for Oregon to find the endzone. James set himself up on the one-yard line with an 18-yard reception. He breezed through the line of scrimmage and the Ducks were rolling again with their third touchdown of the half.
Washington went three-and-out in their next drive and was forced to punt. Oregon's return man Gary Bryant Jr. set the Ducks up inside Husky territory and from there it took three plays for the Ducks to score with a Gabriel scramble up the middle.
For the first and only time all night, Washington put together a sustained drive. It drove 75 yards on 11 plays and found the endzone for the first time in the game with a Coleman one-yard run. The Huskies also converted on their two-point conversion try.
The two teams went to the locker room for halftime with Oregon in the lead, 28-14.
Washington had an opportunity to shift the momentum as it opened the third quarter with the football — but its eight-play drive managed only 18 yards, forcing it to punt once again.
Oregon’s offense responded by driving 80 yards on 10 snaps with the final play being a touchdown catch from Tez Johnson who had missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury. Johnson only had three receptions but his presence was felt as the Ducks went up 35-14 in the third quarter.
"I think more than playing, I think it helps with overall morale, his lively energy, and of course when he gets the ball in his hands. There's a lot that comes with that,” Gabriel said. “We love Tez, we need him and he's a big part of what we do."
That was not all for Duck receivers on the night. Tight end Terrance Ferguson etched his name into Oregon’s history books.
With his four catches, Ferguson became the all-time leader for receptions as an Oregon tight end with 126 in his career. He also tied the program's lead for touchdown receptions as a tight end. It was a historic night for the senior.
“To be on the record list of the names I am next to I am blessed,” Ferguson said.
Just like the first half, Oregon dominated. hen the final horn rang the Ducks were victorious by the score 49-21. For 60 minutes Oregon laid a beating on its Husky rivals.
Gabriel finished the night 16-for-23 with 209 yards and two touchdowns. James had 15 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks leading receiver was Traeshon Holden who had three catches for 73 yards.
“I know this is our most complete game in all three phases,” Lanning said. “We’re relatively healthy and have got a team that’s gotten better each week. I think that sets us up for success.”
The stakes of this year's rivalry game were nowhere near the magnitude of the last time they met, however, Oregon came in with an extra chip on its shoulder.
“I hate Washington. I hate them,” Johnson said. “All the seniors felt the same way about this game, we tried to put up basketball numbers...They did it before. Why not us?”
The Ducks have used last year's results as motivation by playing last year's Pac-12 championship game on the televisions in the weight room during team lift and it has been something everyone has been trying to get off their chest.
“I go to bed every night thinking about them and wake up every morning thinking about them,” Lanning said. “So it’s nice to be able to think about a win, too.”
Oregon will face Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game next Saturday. It will look to beat the Nittany Lions for just the second time in program history as well as keep its bid for a perfect season alive. While excited about the opportunity the goal remains the same for the Oregon Ducks — just win.