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| Ifo Ekpre-Olomu intercepts Matt Scott's pass and takes it the distance. (Brian Davies/The Register Guard) |
In the first half, Oregon had trouble getting things going, starting out handing the ball back to Arizona deep in their own territory, first on downs then again on a Marcus Mariota fumble. After turning it over on downs, the Wildcats went to work, driving the ball down inside the Oregon 5 before a muffed field goal thwarted Arizona's first offensive possession. Oregon though, would turn the ball back over as Marcus Mariota put the ball on the turf on a third down scramble. The Oregon D would stand tall though intercepting Matt Scott and getting the Ducks the ball back at the 12 yard line.
It was the start of a recurring theme for a defense that would not bend or break recording Oregon's first shut out against the Wildcats since 1964. "It’s almost like, you studied really hard for the exam, and you can’t wait for the professor to put it on your desk.” Head Coach Chip Kelly stated when asked if he expected a shut out from the defense. The defense would continue to stymie Arizona giving nothing on 6 trips into the red zone that included two turnovers on downs, two interceptions and a blocked field goal.
On offense, the Ducks were held without a 100 yard rusher as Kenjon Barner tallied the highest rush total with 86 yards, De'Anthony Thomas added 48 more. The real story in the backfield though was TE Colt Lyerla. Lyerla recorded 63 yards and a scoring touch down in which he dragged quarter back Bryan Bennett into the end zone with him. It was a wrinkle that hasn't to this point been seen in the play book and something that would be difficult to prepare for. Lyerla rarely went down on first contact and found a way to keep plays alive with his physical style once he gets the ball.
Again, the score was merely 13-0 at the half and it seemed that Arizona's 3-3-5 alignment was giving Oregon problems. The teams would trade punts in the second half until De'Anthony Thomas got his hands on a punt return, bringing it back 38 yards to put the Ducks in business in Wildcat territory. Three plays later, Lyerla was dragging his quarter back across the goal line and a quick throw out to kicker Rob Beard on the 2 point conversion put the Ducks up 21-0.
After an Arizona punt Mariota would throw an interception which Arizona took into the red zone, only to have Scott intercepted again by Kiko Alonso. This time, Oregon would make them pay when Mariota connected with Bralon Addison over the middle for 55 yards and a score.
On their next drive Matt Scott dropped back to pass and Sophomore Ifo Ekpre-Olomu jumped the route and found himself in the end zone 54 yards later. Ekpre-Olomu stole the show breaking up 3 passes, intercepting 2 and taking one to the house. "It's my first year starting, so I was ready for them to throw my way every time. I just wanted to show them what I could do." Ekpre-Olomu said post game.
'Zona showed signs of life again getting the ball deep into Oregon territory only to have Ka'Deem Carey stuffed on a 4th and 1 play from the Oregon 14. The Ducks took the ball right back up the field and it was Bryan Bennett taking it in from 8 yards out. On the very next play from scrimmage, Troy Hill stepped in front of back up QB B.J. Denker's pass and took it to the house to put the game on ice. All that was left from that point was for the clock to run down and grant the Oregon defense a hard earned shut out.
Next week in conference play, Oregon goes north to play Washington State in Seattle. The Cougars are coming off a heart wrenching loss against the Colorado Buffaloes and will be looking for redemption against Oregon. Arizona in turn will head home to face newly ranked and undefeated #18 Oregon State as they look to pick up the pieces from being ranked only a week ago.
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