Flurry of Flags Soil Ducks’ 42-27 Triumph over USC

BY KEN WOODY

Coach Dan Lanning enjoyed a spectacular 42-27 victory over USC before 58,855 raucous fans who were squirming in their seats much of the second half as it appeared Oregon was going to find a way, unintended of course, to blow a crisp first half lead and dash hopes for any December playoff football. When the smoke cleared and the fog rolled in, the Ducks had whipped the Trojans on the line of scrimmage, just as Lanning had said they needed to do.

The Coach prides himself in leading a football team that is disciplined and hard-nosed, intent on winning the football war on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. In the first half, his offense operated powerfully, scoring touchdowns on three of their first four drives and Lord, ‘Amighty, even scored on an 85-yard punt return by Malik Benson that broke a 14-14 tie and put the Ducks in the lead for good. Later, further miracles abounded as local linebacker Brice Boettcher jumped in on offense when the troops looked like they needed a boost on the goal line, and sure enough, he blew into the end zone for a score that gave Oregon a 28-14 lead at the half.

Unfortunately for the crowd, it was not going to be an easy romp, because the Ducks squandered the first possession of the second half and let the Trojans hang around. Quarterback Dante Moore looked a bit shaky on a couple of pass plays and Lanning chose to go for it on fourth-and-one on his own 42-yard line. Rather than starting a rant about going for it when you should punt to sustain any advantage you have, I will say the play chosen could have been a better play than having the back up to the back-up tight end be the designated ball carrier who was stoned for no gain.

Oregon had scored on its last possession of the first half, and with the first possession of the second half coming to them by the coin toss, they lost a chance to give the lads some breathing room.

USC, whose offense is as dangerous as a time bomb, turned the ball over on one of Jayden Maiava’s two interceptions, but Moore gave one back on his own.

‘SC, steadied, came back and with the help of one of Oregon’s four pass-interference penalties, took ten plays to go 52 yards and edge closer, 28-21.

Fortunately, Moore and the offense regained its balance and drove 75 yards in seven plays, two by passes including the decisive toss, a deep middle dart that Kenyon Sadiq made what, for him, is his signature catch: flat-out diving between two defenders down the seam for a 28-yard touchdown and a 35-21 lead.

It should be mentioned that Oregon’s offense was still running the ball effectively even without All American center Iapani Laloulu who was injured and left the game in the first half and was replaced by Charlie Pickard, a walk-on from Jesuit High School in Portland. Pickard, who won a scholarship last spring on the basis of his dedication and improvement, sparked the Duck offense that outrushed the Trojans 179 to 52. Lanning was pleased that his boys averaged 4.4 per rush to USC’s 1.9; definitely a game decider.

Pickard’s inspired play was golden for old-time Oregon fans who, over the years, endured routine humiliations on the line of scrimmage at the hands of USC. The Ducks’ rushing statistics roll in your throat like a fine red wine for those learning that the center is the most important member of the offensive line. He has to make calls on the chaotic line of scrimmage, that his guards and tackles on both sides depend on to know their own assignments. Oregon’s O-line allowed no sacks, only two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry.

Moore’s touchdown pass to Sadiq was a beauty, right between Trojan safeties and a timely boost to both the crowd and the players, in all black with the pretty, shiny, Mallard green helmets. The two teams traded punts and USC drove for their last score and then, oddly, went for a two-point conversion that was smothered. Nevertheless, the score was closer: 42-27, and Duck fans squirmed, scared by the high-voltage Trojans receivers who outjumped Oregon’s outmanned cornerbacks on 50-50 pass receptions.

Before the game, Southern Cal’s receivers were billed as good as Ohio State’s and they showed up, trudging off the Autzen turf with impressive accomplishments that could not bring victory. Tanook Hines caught six balls for 141 yards, one touchdown and a long of 51; Ja’ Kobi Lane caught six for 108 and a long of 32; and Makai Lemon took in seven for only 34 yards, but two scores.

USC’s quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 25-of-43 attempts for 306 yards and three touchdowns, and released several jump balls that were either completed or drew pass interference penalties. Oregon’s defense had five quarterback hurries and had Maiava running for his life in the second half as their physical prowess was pressed on an injury-decimated Trojan offensive line. The Ducks’ secondary showed more confidence and aggression as the defensive rush began to get to Maiava. Film study will show that they could have had as many as five interceptions if they could have wrapped up the ball.

It was not all rosy for Oregon, on both sides of the line of scrimmage: the offense picked up six penalties for 65 yards and an additional loss of 64 yards in yardage gained on penalized snaps; and the defense earned five flags for 65 yards, including four pass interferences that occurred on incomplete passes. In one situation the same sideline official called the Ducks for interference two straight plays, much to the ire of a crowd growing tired of hapless Big Ten refereeing, with both interpretations and mechanics.

To be fair to the Big Ten striped shirts, it would have been be better if Oregon cornerbacks might think of turning their head and actually looking for the ball instead of grabbing the receiver. In this game, they made it too easy for the side judges to make those interference calls, even if it seemed unfair to the 58,000 impartial observers.

Lanning will have to work hard to get that straightened out before the next game against another bunch of mouthy show boats from Husky Stadium. Saturday, it seemed too much to ask that Duck players not react to antics and bullying by frustrated Trojan players. At one point it seemed worse than a hockey game as showboating and “in your face” messaging grew to the point of bringing the game to a standstill. Trojan coaches could also teach their defense that it is illegal to tackle by grabbing the face mask of the runner as they did several times to Noah Whittington.

USC looked unstoppable early on behind pinpoint passing by Jayden Maiava and catching by Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Tanouk Hines who left the Ducks secondary in the Astrodust, scoring twice in three drives before the Ducks got control of the game.

Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein called a crisp game, melding the smooth passing of Dante Moore (22-30-1 for 257 yards, 2 touchdowns) with the slashing running inside and outside by old-timer Noah Whittington (104 yards-19 carries) and the freshmen sensation Jordon Davison who added 50 yards on 13 carries.

The second quarter concluded with the ugliest touchdown drive in coach Lanning’s career, and it was the pivot point of the game. After a rare interception by the Duck defense at their own 28-yard line, the Trojans incurred a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in a mob scene in the northeast corner of the end zone; the ball was brought to Oregon’s 44. On the next play, the Ducks gained 17 yards, but a personal foul penalty on an offensive lineman nullified the gain.

Next, Moore completed a pass to Malik Benson for 30 yards, but Benson was compelled to showboat, earning another 15-yard personal foul penalty. Benson’s performance, which was met with a scathing review by coach Lanning on the sideline, was followed by a 10-yard gain that was nullified by a facemask penalty on an offensive lineman. Stymied, Lanning went for a field goal, and Atticus Sappington, hero of the Iowa game, missed–no good.

But not so fast, my friend: ‘SC was penalized for “leaping” to block the kick and the Duck offense came back on and had Moore run a sweep to the right sideline, good for nine yards to the four-yard line. With second and one, the offensive line got a false start penalty, back to the nine. Noah Whittington took the next handoff and with a full pile of players trying to keep him out of the end zone, 58,000 fans saw him in the end zone under the pile. The referees, enjoying the show, said “No” and on the proceeding play saw Lanning put linebacker Brice Boettcher in with a couple of other heavily endowed bodies and he finally put the drive to rest in the end zone, Oregon up 28-14.

As accountants scored the 12-play, 56-yard drive, it was noted the Ducks earned four penalties that nullified plays gaining 54 yards. For those historians among us, it reminded of the trench warfare of Verdun in the historic Great War.

The Ducks earned 130 yards on the eleven penalties accepted by Southern Cal, who responded with eight of their own for 103 yards. The antics of the amped-up players did not make the game easy to referee, and coach Lanning will undoubtedly spend time straightening that out before Saturday’s game with the Huskies in Seattle, a place he has never been a winner. The Ducks are not popular with Washington fans who still remember the 11-sack, 49-21 loss last season.

Injuries mount for everybody in a 12-game season that is too long and Oregon’s offensive line and wide receivers are running thin. The game will depend on which team runs the ball best and which team can stop the other, within the rules of the game. It would be a shame if selfish post-play theatrics and compromised fundaments besmirch a classic showdown between two bitter rivals that has one playoff opportunity for the winner.

Ken Woody coached college football for 18 years as an assistant at Oregon, Washington, Utah State and Washington State and as a head coach at Whitman College and Washington University-St. Louis. He conducts a coaching clinic, free to all, at the 6^th Street Grill WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd AT 5:00 P.M.  THERE WILL BE NO SHOW WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26^th Plays from Oregon game are analyzed, there are scouting reports for opponents, and highlights from referees; all to learn and enjoy football and understand why the Ducks win or lose.