Ducks Outlast Bruins, Claim Pac-12 Championship

LaMichael James tosses the ball to the referee after his first score.
(Johnathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

It was a historic night in the Pac-12. For the first time in conference history, the conference crowned it's champion. However, what's new in the conference looked much the same as the last two years. The Oregon Ducks got out to a quick start and never looked back as they captured their third consecutive conference crown and earned the right to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl. Even without scoring in the fourth quarter, the Ducks racked up 49 points and as the confetti covered the field in Autzen Stadium, one thing became apparent. Oregon is now the class of the conference.

LaMichael James had his fourth 200 yard rushing game, running for 219 and 3 TD's on the ground and garnered game MVP honors. Darron Thomas added three more scored through the air and rushed for another as he became Oregon's all time leader in touchdown passes.

Nelson Rosario lead the way for the Bruins with 6 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. One of those a full extension one hand grab over Terrance Mitchell in the front corner of the end zone which would be one of the many highlights of the game. Derrick Coleman used his bruising style of running to run for 83 yards and be one of the main stalwarts on the offensive side of the ball.

The game opened up with a UCLA fumble on second down by Johnathan Franklin and Oregon was in business early. After the Bruins held the Ducks on three consecutive plays LaMichael James broke through the line and put the first points on the board with a 30 yard run. The Duck defense forced another 3 and out and Oregon looked to put the game away early. However, the UCLA defense forced two consecutive turnovers. The second was an interception that caromed off of Kenjon Barner right into the hands of a waiting Patrick Larimore who returned the pick all the way for a touchdown.

The Ducks would respond with a quick drive, scoring in under 90 seconds. Josh Huff made a 30 yard reception to get the ball down to the 10 yard line. On the next play Darron Thomas faked the hand off to Kenjon Barner and took it in himself to put the Ducks back in the lead.

Once again, the offenses would trade punts and Johnathan Franklin would fumble for the second time on the day, recovered by Michael Clay, Oregon's leading tackler. Oregon would take advantage of the fumble once again when Darron Thomas would find a wide open Colt Lyerla in the back of the end zone to put the Ducks up 21-7 nearing the end of the quarter.

UCLA would respond, sustaining a drive which was capped off when Nelson Rosario caught a 37 yard pass for a touch down. Quarter Back Kevin Prince ran the ball twice in the drive to keep the Duck defense off balance as he would most of the day. The Ducks continued to have issues defending the pistol offense as they had against Nevada earlier in the season.

Oregon responded, moving the ball up the field until LaMichael James broke free for a 25 yard rush up the sideline down to the UCLA 6 yard line. 2 plays later, James punched it in from 3 yards out to extend the Duck lead. The Bruins would have a chance to respond but once again would put the ball on the turf, this time it was Derrick Coleman. The Ducks would be held on the first three plays but much like their first scoring drive would put points on the board on fourth down. UCLA would punt on their next possession and Oregon would turn the ball over on downs before Kevin Prince connected with Joseph Fauria deep in Oregon territory to set up a half ending field goal.

The Bruins came out with new life in the second half, opening the third frame by forcing an Oregon punt. The Bruins came back down the field and on a read play, Kevin Prince rushed for his only running touch down of the night, the bring UCLA within 35-24.

As they had through most of the year, Oregon responded with a touch down drive. LaMichael James scored his third touch down run going off right tackle and into the end zone. It capped a 46 yard drive which featured a heavy dose of the running game which makes Oregon so dangerous. Thomas' third and final touch down pass would come on the next drive giving the Ducks their last score of the night. David Paulson, in his last game in Autzen Stadium found his way into the end zone on a 22 yard hook up.

UCLA would not go quietly into the night though and Prince would find Nelson Rosario with the aforementioned touchdown reception. Rosario ran a fade to the front corner of the end zone and Rosario climbed the ladder and snagged the ball with one hand over Terrance Mitchell. The touch down gave the game it's final tally of 49-31. Coach Chip Kelly put in back up Bryan Bennett to finish the game taking a knee and running out the clock.

After the game, coach Kelly raised a hand to silence the crowd before dedicating the Pac-12 championship trophy to recently ousted U of O president Richard Larviere. The Ducks now wait for the winner of the Big Ten championship Saturday between Michigan State and Wisconsin. It's a rematch of a game that went down to the wire and featured one of the greatest endings of the year when Kirk Cousins connected on a hail mary pass to end the game.

For the Bruins, they must wait for their bowl invite. They requested a bowl waiver to play in a bowl after finishing the season with a losing record. Whatever bowl they end up in they will have to go without coach Rick Neuheisel who coached his last game on Friday night.

Ducks rout Beavers, clinch North Division

Michael Clay celebrates an interception in their 49-21 win on Saturday
(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Darron Thomas threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns and LaMichael James added 142 on the ground as the Ducks defeated the Beavers 49-21 on Saturday. The win locked up the North division and Oregon will host UCLA for the inaugural Pac-12 championship, this coming Friday.

The Beavers looked as though they were in trouble early as Sean Mannion was intercepted on their opening drive by Michael Clay on the OSU 38 yard line. The Ducks were on the scoreboard only 90 seconds later when LaMichael James punched it in from one yard out.

James was forced out of the game in the third as he put his arm down to regain his balance and tweaked it as his elbow locked against the ground. He's not concerned about it though, in a post game press conference flexing his elbow and reassuring Duck fans that it's alright. The Ducks are going to need James to be healthy going into Championship week and then bowl season as the Ducks look for a potential BCS bowl bid.

The remainder of the first quarter would consist of the Beavers turning the ball over on Mannion's second interception and punting the ball and the Ducks going for it on fourth down and not converting on the attempts. On the day, the Ducks were uncharacteristically 0-4 on fourth down conversions. After the Ducks failed to convert on 4th and 14 from the OSU 33 yard line the Beaver offense took the field. The drive started to show promise but was derailed by a Dion Jordan sack and the Beavers were forced to punt.  Oregon was unable to capitalize as they went 3 and out and Jackson Rice punted the ball away.

The Beavers showed promise as they gave Oregon a taste of their own medicine with a two play scoring drive when Sean Mannion connected with Jovan Stevenson who weaved his way through the Duck defense for a 58 yard scoring pass.

Oregon's defense stood tall through the rest of the half as they did not allow the Beavers a first down through the remainder of the half. In the mean time, Darron Thomas found his rhythm and threw for 3 touch down passes. One a piece to David Paulson, DeAnthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner.

The Beavers struggled to contain the tight end, Paulson who had a career day. He caught 8 passes for 105 yards and the aforementioned score. He held together the Oregon offense as the sure handed tight end often was able to turn the ball up field and add the all important yards after the catch.

After the second half kickoff, the Ducks took the ball up the field and it appeared that De'Anthony Thomas had his second touchdown reception of the day but on review it was ruled that he stepped out of bounds at the 3 yard line. Kenjon Barner punched it in two plays later and the Ducks were in full control.

After the Beavers were unable to convert on their own 4th down conversion the Ducks sustained a drive down inside the OSU 5 yard line. Kenjon Barner looked to get the first down on the fourth down attempt but coughed up the ball on the 2 yard line and Oregon State would recover the fumble, thwarting the drive.

Oregon State couldn't capitalize though as the pressure got to Mannion twice on the drive and forced another punt. The Ducks got to Mannion six times on the day, and never gave him a chance to set his feet and throw the ball down the field. Coupled with the Beaver inability to run the ball, the Oregon defense almost completely shut down Mannion and company.

In a play that seemed to signal a changing of the guard at the tight end position, Darron Thomas threw a pass to Freshman Colt Lyerla who went high to get the ball and rumbled his way 39 yards for Thomas' fourth touchdown pass on the day. This made the score 42-7 and Kelly called off the dogs.

The Beavers found mojo late against Oregon's backups and Sean Mannion threw his second and third touch down passes on the day. The offenses traded punts, then fumbles as the Ducks got their sixth and final sack of the day stripping the ball and recovering the fumble. The Ducks would score again with a heavy dose of the run game as Ayele Forde got into the end zone from 8 yards out on Oregon's last scoring drive on the day.

Out of desperation, the Beavers would drive up the field once again and Mannion would find Brandin Cooks for a 23 yard scoring pass. Their hook up would give the teams the final score 49-21. The resiliency from the Beavers even in the face of certain defeat has to give fans hope for the future as much of the heavy lifting late was done by young players.

Where they absolutely have to improve though, is on the defensive side of the ball. The Beaver defense gave up 670 yards, including 365 on the ground. It won't matter how good the Beaver offense is if they can't slow down their opponents attack.

It is sure to be a disappointment for the OSU seniors who have had to endure 4 consecutive Civil War defeats and have seen their biggest rival's rise to national prominence. The Beavers season is over now where the Ducks have two more games to prepare for, the Pac-12 championship against a UCLA team; that got throttled in their rivalry game 50-0 by USC, and then, finally their bowl game.