Oregon Escapes With a Win Over California Despite An Inconsistent Offensive Performance

Football coaches will often tell you that the outcome of each week’s game is binary: you either win or lose the game, with no “style points” being awarded either way.

That latter fact is an important one for the University of Oregon. Because, while the Ducks ultimately escaped with a 17-7 win over the University of California Golden Bears, it was a victory that was far from easy on the eyes.

The heavily-favored Ducks trailed the Golden Bears for the first 43 minutes of game time. After averaging more than 38 points per game in their first four contests, Oregon managed to tally a grand total of three points until deep into the fourth quarter.

In fact, the guys on Oregon’s offense should be buying lunch and dinner for the members of the defense all week, because it was the latter group that stepped up while the former started the game so poorly. The Ducks’ execution on offense to start the game was nothing short of sloppy, as they turned the football over on each of their first three drives. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw an interception deep in California territory on Oregon’s first possession, and running back Travis Dye would fumble the ball on each of the next two possessions.

Even the one promising drive by Oregon that didn’t end in a turnover or punt in the first half still ended in relative calamity. After a nine-play drive spanning 58 yards stalled on California’s 27-yard line, kicker Camden Lewis would miss the 45-yard field goal attempt.

Meanwhile, the Ducks held California to a grand total of 163 yards in the first half – but more importantly, just one score (a touchdown on the Golden Bears’ second offensive possession). Even after the Ducks started the second half with another three-and-out, the Oregon defense forced California into a three-and-out as well.

Oregon finally mustered up some offense on the ensuing drive, going 72 yards on 13 plays, before stalling on the 10-yard line of California. Lewis would connect on 28-yard attempt, tying the score.

The Ducks would use a spark created by safety Jevon Holland, when he returned a California punt to the 30-yard line of the Golden Bears. Herbert hit Jacob Breeland for a 30-yard pass that fell just short of the goal line, leading to Cyrus Habibi-Likio running in the touchdown from barely a yard out, giving Oregon their first touchdown of the day.

Two drives later, Oregon would use an interception thrown by Golden Bears quarterback Devon Modster as the impetus for their game-sealing score. A scramble by Herbert took the Ducks deep into the Golden Bears’ side of the field, and after a couple of runs by Habibi-Likio, Herbert connected with wide receiver Jaylon Redd for a one-yard touchdown catch.

The Ducks’ defense, which allowed only 256 yards all day to California, would hold strong and secure Oregon’s victory, giving them their fourth-straight win since dropping the season opener against Auburn University.
Oregon will have one less day for the coaching staff to help fix the errors made in their game against California, as they take on the University of Colorado on Friday evening. That game will be an important tune-up for the Ducks, as they’ll have to travel up to Tacoma to take on the 15th-ranked University of Washington Huskies in a pivotal Pac-12 contest.