Utah wide receiver Kaelin Clay was sprinting towards the left pylon and the Utes fan base at Rice-Eccles stadium was going berserk.
About 20 seconds later, the same screaming fans were shocked and stunned as they watched Oregon linebacker Joe Walker cross the end zone for a touchdown. Clay, on his way to an easy 78-yard touchdown, dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. The ball laid there while Clay and his teammates chest bumped and celebrated what appeared to be a 13-0 lead. Ducks safety Erick Dargan stared at the ball for about three seconds before walking over and picking it up. He ran and dropped the ball. Walker was there to scoop and eventually score.
Instead of a two-score lead, the game was tied. Oregon would get a defensive stop on the next Utah possession before Mariota found Dwayne Stanford in the end zone on a fourth down scramble to give the Ducks a 14-7 lead.
Mariota finished the half 9-of-14 for 101 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 83 yards on eight carries.
Oregon entered the locker room with a 24-10 lead.
Key plays:
– Kaelin Clay and the Utes were a yard away from taking a commanding 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Clay had other plans apparently because he dropped the ball prematurely near the end zone, resulting in a 100-yard Joe Walker return to the house, tying the game up at 7-7. Whether or not Oregon goes on to the inaugural college football playoffs, this will remain one of the biggest turning points for the Ducks.
– Mark Helfrich elected to go for it on nearly every fourth down situation and early in the second quarter, it paid off. On a 4th and four situation, Marcus Mariota found Dwayne Stanford in the end zone to take their first lead of the game, marking a critical turning point in the game.
– Giving Oregon a 21-7 lead with under five minutes to go in the first half, Mariota found Pharaoh Brown in the end zone for their third score of the game, second after Clay’s mishap. With all the struggles compiled early in the game, this touchdown allowed Oregon to regain their composure and head into the break with the lead.
Three things to watch in the second half:
1) The quest for 30 points: Since 2012, Oregon is 31-0 when scoring 30 points or more in a game. At the half, the Ducks lead 21-7. Since the Kaelin Clay fumble, the Oregon offense has been humming. The Ducks had 217 total yards in the first half. Scoring 30 points appears to be in the Ducks reach barring a second half let down.
2) Life after Thompson: In the first quarter, the Utah offense was moving the ball with ease. The Utes scored on their first possession and took advantage of some quality field position. However, when Thompson left the game after a non-contact injury, the offense struggled. Travis Wilson, who has played in every game this season, came off the bench and struggled Wilson finished with 132 yards passing in the first half. Utah’s offense has to click in the second half in order to hang around with the Ducks.
3) Mariota on the move: Mariota was sacked three times in the first half. After the third, the Oregon offense appeared to make a switch. Mariota was on the move and threw both of his first half touchdown passes outside of the pocket. Utah, with 41 sacks on the season, has the best pass-rushing group in the country. The pressure from the Utes shouldn’t stop in the second half.
Oregon passing

Marcus Mariota – 9-of-14 for 101 yards, two touchdowns
Utah passing
Kendal Thompson – 4-of-5 for 23 yards
Travis Wilson – 8-0f-13 for 132 yards
Oregon rushing
Marcus Mariota – Eight carries for 83 yards
Royce Freeman – Seven carries for 16 yards
Thomas Tyner – Three carries for 17 yards
Utah rushing
Devontae Booker – 11 carries for 30 yards
Kendal Thompson – 5 carries for 28 yards
Oregon receiving
Pharaoh Brown – Two receptions for nine yards, one touchdown
Dwayne Stanford – One reception three yards, one touchdown
Devon Allen – One reception for 47 yards
Byron Marshall – Four receptions for 37 yards
Utah receiving:
Kaelin Clay – Four receptions for 94 yards
Tim Patrick – Three receptions for 21 yards
Oregon total yards: 
217 total yards
Utah total yards: 
233 total yards
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt