**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season we will feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on how Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Ross A. Harvey, the sports editor at Tennessee Tech’s The Oracle.**
The Calhoun, Ga. connection.
Maybe the news didn’t reach the Beaver state, so let me tell you: Former University of Tennessee wide receiver Da’rick Rogers transferred to Tech to play football with his high school teammates QB Tre Lamb and RB Adam Urbano.
The trio from Georgia has transformed Tech’s potent spread offense from a year ago into an unstoppable force that has defenses around the nation cowering in fear.
Last season for UT, Rogers led the SEC with 67 receptions and 1,040 yards and was named a first-team All-SEC selection (you have until the end of this article to tell me who led the Pac-12 in receptions). Rogers is explosive and athletic, and he does not lack in confidence.
But why should he? In his first two games (without the benefit of spring practice at Tech), Rogers has eight catches for 163 yards and two scores — on 11 targets. That’s not all. Urbano has run for 140 yards per game, and Lamb has added 317 yards per game in total offense. Add those staggering numbers to copious other talented receivers, a bouquet of tight ends and an offensive line that looks like they hit the Tech cafeteria four times a day, and you have a Tech offense that looks like they could outscore the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Our defense, led by linebacker/defensive end Marcus Edwards, senior defensive back Will Johnson and sophomore Austin Tallant, is pretty good as well. They create turnovers and hit you with a big play just when they need it. We all know defense wins championships. This game may end up 114-98, but Tech’s defense will stand tough and stop Oregon when it needs to.
Don’t get me wrong, Oregon is good. They run the spread as well, albeit the teams run two very different offenses. Chip Kelly is an experienced, smart coach. Marcus Mariota, Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas make up an excellent trio themselves.
But Tech head coach Watson Brown just got done with an Ohio Valley Conference-winning season. I’m sure the elder Brown gave his brother Mack a good ribbing after his Texas Longhorns had a losing record in conference.
Watson likes the success his team has experienced. And he knows how to keep it going: Lamb TD pass to Rogers. Urbano TD run. Lamb TD pass to Urbano. Shoot, maybe even Urbano TD pass to Rogers. Rogers to Lamb on the end-around?
The Calhoun, Ga. connection. Ask their high school opponents. You know it’s coming, you just can’t stop it.
(Oh — and Robert Woods, from USC, had 111 receptions. Those darn Trojans. Good thing we don’t play them.)