One week after sitting out against Georgia State, Vernon Adams Jr. got the start for the Ducks against Utah, but never got into a rhythm. Adams had completed just 2 of 7 passes for 26 yards when Helfrich pulled him in favor of Jeff Lockie.
Lockie was the polar opposite of Adams, quickly getting in tune with his receivers and leading the Ducks to their only scoring drive of the first half.
Meanwhile, Utah’s offense had their way with Oregon’s soft defense, allowing three easy touchdown passes to go along with numerous big rushing plays from Utes quarterback Travis Wilson and running back Devontae Booker. The Ducks opted to start Juwaan Williams and Glen Ihenacho in the secondary, but their pass-coverage was equally as soft as in the previous three games.
Utah scored on its final offensive possession of the half, extending its lead 27-13.
Key Plays: 
– On the Utes’ first possession in the red zone, Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman tackled Booker for a five-yard loss on third down. Utah converted the 28-yard field goal, giving it a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
– The Ducks stopped Wilson on a third down QB-keeper and Andy Phillips converted his second field goal of the game from 44 yards. Utah led 6-0, late in the first quarter.
– Byron Marshall returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards, and a face-mask penalty on Utah put the ball on the Utes’ 11-yard line. Royce Freeman scored on an Adams screen pass on second down. A failed two-point conversion attempt kept the game tied 6-6.
– Broken coverage led to Utah receiver Britain Covey catching a wide-open 26-yard touchdown pass from Wilson. Utah took a 13-6 lead.
– Wilson found Kenneth Scott in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown. The Utes converted the extra point, extending the lead 20-6.
– After replacing Adams, Lockie hit Bralon Addison for a six-yard touchdown, sparking Oregon’s offense. Lockie completed throws of 24 and 26 yards, and rushed once for 20 yards on the drive. Ducks trimmed the lead to 20-13.
– The Utes responded with a quick scoring drive of their own. After Wilson gained 60 yards on a run, he found Caleb Repp in the right corner of the end zone. Utah reclaimed a 14-point lead, 27-13.
Three things to watch for in the second half:
– Can Lockie pick up where he left off in the second half? The Ducks looked like a different team on offense when Lockie relieved Adams midway through the second quarter. Minus a miscommunication with Johnny Mundt, Lockie was perfect on the lone Ducks’ touchdown drive.
– Wilson looked equally threatening through the air and on the ground in the first half. In addition to 137 passing yards, Wilson rushed five times for 98 yards. Wilson was questionable to start this game after injuring his right shoulder two weeks ago, but he showed no signs of rust in the first half.
– Tyson Coleman was one of the few bright spots on Oregon’s defense in the first half, tackling Booker twice behind the line of scrimmage. Coleman’s tackling was particularly effective in the first quarter, as he stopped the Utes twice on third down when they were marching downfield. The Ducks will need Coleman to continue his strong play in the second half if they are going to slow Utah’s offense.
First half stats:
Oregon passing
Vernon Adams: 2-of-7 for 26 yards and one touchdown
Jeff Lockie: 4-of-7 for 50 yards and one touchdown
Utah passing
Travis Wilson: 12-of-20 for 137 yards and three touchdowns
Oregon rushing
Royce Freeman: Nine carries for 34 yards
Jeff Lockie: Three carries for 31 yards
Utah rushing
Travis Wilson: Five carries for 98 yards
Devontae Booker: 16 rushes for 65 yards
Oregon receiving
Charles Nelson: One reception for 26 yards
Johnny Mundt: One reception for 16 yards
Royce Freeman: One reception for 13 yards and one touchdown
Utah receiving
Kenneth Scott: Four receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown
Britain Covey: One reception for 26 yards and one touchdown
Caleb Repp: One reception for nine yards and one touchdown
Turnovers
None
Oregon total offense: 143 yards
Utah total offense: 294 yards
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