While many words come to mind to describe the season the Oregon Ducks have had thus far, one stands out: perseverance.
Oregon’s season has been full of highs and lows, but every time the Ducks were faced with a setback, they dug deep to overcome each obstacle.
Five months before the season began, star wide receiver Bralon Addison suffered a torn ACL in his left knee after participating in a non-contact drill during a spring football practice leaving an already unproven wide receiver group more depleted.
Four months after Addison’s injury, returning All-American left tackle Tyler Johnstone re-tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Johnstone, who was coming off surgery to repair his ACL after tearing it in last year’s Alamo Bowl against Texas, had started every game at left tackle since Marcus Mariota took over as quarterback.
The season officially kicked off on Aug. 30 as the Ducks destroyed South Dakota 62-13. It set the stage for the next week’s showdown with then-No. 7 Michigan State.
Oregon started off hot against the Spartans by building an 18-7 lead midway through the second quarter but Michigan State rallied for 20 straight points to take a 27-18 lead early in the third quarter. With all the momentum gone and facing a third-and-17, Mariota had, what many consider, his first “Heisman moment,” when he alluded pressure and flipped the ball to a wide open Royce Freeman for the first down.
The Ducks, with the momentum back, scored 28 straight points to finish the game and earn the 46-27 statement win.
Continuing its winning ways, Oregon reeled off victories against Wyoming and Washington State to set up a showdown with then-undefeated Arizona. The Wildcats, with the help of a lack of stout defensive performance an a Tony Washington penalty, came into Autzen and defeated the Ducks 31-4. Oregon however was playing without both of its starting tackles in the game, one being all-American Jake Fisher.
The loss ignited Oregon as it reeled off seven straight wins, two of which came against ranked opponents on the road, and averaged 48 points per game over that stretch. The winning streak set up a rematch with then No. 7 Arizona for the Pac-12 Championship.
In the Ducks’ most complete game of the year, Mariota staked his claim to the Heisman trophy by accounting for five total touchdowns as Oregon dismantled Scooby Wright III and Arizona 51-13.
Even when nearly every analyst in the nation declared Oregon dead after its Oct. 2 loss to Arizona, the Ducks showed the kind of perseverance it takes to become a national champion when they ran the table and improved weekly. With the story-book ending still waiting to be written, it’s unlikely another team in the final four will be as battle-tested as Oregon and that’s great news for the Ducks.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @ryan_kostecka
