Trailing 34-22, the Oregon Ducks were six minutes and forty two seconds away from falling to 2-2 on the season. However, the offense and defense stepped up. The Ducks scored 22 unanswered points in less than four minutes in route to a 44-41 comeback victory over the Washington State Cougars.
Bo Nix was instrumental in Oregon’s comeback. It started with him methodically working the Ducks down the field on an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The drive included a 21-yard completion to Bucky Irving on fourth down and a one-yard TD to Cam McCormick to make it only 34-29 Cougars.
Then, the Ducks’ defense forced a suddenly conservative Cougars offense into a 3-an-out on the following possession. As a result, the table was set for Bo Nix and Oregon to take the lead. On 3rd-and-1 at midfield, Nix threw a strike to receiver Troy Franklin on 3rd-and-1 at midfield.
OREGON TAKES THE LEAD 😱@oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/Cv7AZQ7D17
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 24, 2022
In a blink of an eye, Oregon had the lead. Nix ran in the corresponding two-point conversion to make it 37-34. The touchdown capped a career performance for Nix. He threw for 428 passing yards and three passing touchdowns; also overcoming a disastrous pick-six in the first half.
However, there was still 1:24 left for Cameron Ward and the WSU offense to respond. Oregon’s defense wouldn’t give them the chance. Linebacker Mase Funa produced the biggest play of the game and punctuated Ducks’ victory.
DUCKS PICK SIX 🦆
What a turnaround by @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/MrzJQr7Rlu
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 24, 2022
WSU had a lot of success with slot receiver screens throughout the game. So, it was an incredible read and play by Funa to step in front of the screen and make the crucial pick-six.
Oregon Validates Toughest and Resilience
The Ducks spent over 58 minutes of game time trailing the Cougars. The WSU defense held strong in the redzone in the first half. It forced the Ducks into three redzone field goals in the first half. Oregon eventually figured it out in the second half. They scored touchdowns in all three of their redzone visits in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Ducks’ defense had a tough time chasing around Cougars’ QB Ward. Multiple defensive players like Brandon Dorlus and D. J. Johnson committed costly penalties. However, it never stopped fighting. It forced the biggest play of the game with that Funa Pick-Six.
There should be no questioning the Ducks’ mental toughness to fight through adversity. Despite not being ranked, Washington State is a really good team. It was evident in its 17-14 victory at Wisconsin. So, Dan Lanning and Oregon deserve major props for getting a victory in Pullman.
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