Before the season, Thursday night’s primetime matchup between Oregon and Arizona State was projected as a possible Pac-12 championship preview. Those aspirations are all but thrown out of the window for both teams, each entering the game with a record of 4-3 (2-2 in Pac-12 play).
Still, the first half was a back-and-forth battle that finished with Oregon leading 17-14.
Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzales missed three field goals in the first half, including a 24-yard miss.
Before the second half begins, check out the key plays from the first half, three things to watch in the second half and stats from both teams.
Three things to watch in the second half:
1) Can the Vernon Adams to Darren Carrington connection keep it up? Last game against Washington, Adams found Carrington for two touchdowns. Tonight, Adams found Carrington for a 46-yard pass down the middle of the field on Oregon’s opening drive. The tandem hooked up three more times in the first half, including a wide open 39-yard touchdown with four minutes left in the second quarter. Those two have proven to be an explosive duo together. Let’s see if it continues in the second half.
2) Has Oregon found the right formula in the secondary? After moving Tyree Robinson from safety to cornerback, and putting Charles Nelson in at safety, the Oregon secondary — including Reggie Daniels at safety and Arrion Springs at corner — held the pass-happy Arizona State offense relatively in check in the first half. The Sun Devils and quarterback Mike Bercovici finished the first half with 196 yards passing and two touchdowns, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Gary Chambers late in the first half. Which secondary will show up in the second half remains to be seen.
3) Can the Oregon defense hold Arizona State to under 30 points? After the end of the first half, it’s certainly looking that way. In Oregon’s three losses this season, The Ducks have surrendered at least 31 points. Only once this season did Oregon give up more than 30 points in a win. The Ducks gave up 42 points to Eastern Washington in the first game of the season. Keeping Arizona State under that number could equate to Oregon’s fifth victory of the season.
Key plays:
-Royce Freeman breaks through with 5:21 remaining in the first quarter for a 64-yard touchdown run.
-Mike Bercovici tosses a touchdown pass for the Sun Devils first score of the game to Devin Lucien with 6:36 remaining in the second half.
-ASU’s placekicker Zane Gonzalez missed his first three field goal tries, a 26-yard, 52-yard and 54-yard attempt.
-Vernon Adams throws a 39-yard touchdown pass to Darren Carringon on fourth down and one with 4:00 minutes remaining in the half.
-With 2:33 remaining in the half, Bercovici threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Gary Chambers.
Stats:
Oregon passing
Vernon Adams Jr.: 13/20, 178 yards, 1 TD
Arizona State passing
Mike Bercovici: 16/24, 196 yards, 2 TD
Oregon rushing
Royce Freeman: 5 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
Arizona State rushing
Demario Richard: 9 carries, 69 yards
Kalen Ballage: 8 carries, 55 yards
Oregon receiving
Darren Carrington: 4 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Bralon Addison: 2 receptions, 28 yards
Evan Baylis: 2 receptions, 27 yards
Arizona State receiving
Gary Chambers: 2 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD
Devin Lucien: 4 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
D.J. Foster: 2 receptions, 15 yards
Oregon total offense
252 yards
Arizona State total offense
321 yards
Andrew Bantly is also an author on this post.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly.