The 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks got multiple first-half touchdowns from Darron Thomas, LaMichael James and Lavasier Tuinei as they cruised to an 56-7 win over the Missouri State Bears Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium.
After Missouri State opened the game with a nine-play, 84-yard scoring drive capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Chris Douglas to go ahead 7-0, Oregon effortlessly rattled off 35 unanswered points to close out the first half.
Oregon Quarterback Darron Thomas led the Ducks to another blowout victory at Autzen Stadium completing 11/15 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. (Michael Ciaglo/Oregon Daily Emerald)
The Ducks (2-1) took a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter when Thomas hit Tuinei with a nine-yard scoring strike. From there, Oregon scored three touchdowns on its next seven plays from scrimmage to blow the game wide open.
“We did what we wanted to do coming into this game,” third-year head coach Chip Kelly said. “We did not turn the ball over. We have to clean up the penalty situation, but all in all it was a good effort by our guys.”
On the first possession of the second quarter, Thomas hit junior Rahsaan Vaughn with a 46-yard fade over the middle and found Tuinei with a 40-yarder on the next play, which set up a seven-yard touchdown catch for true freshman tight end Colt Lyerla to go ahead by two scores.
“Really impressed by the two deep balls he threw back-to-back, making great decisions on it,” Kelly said. “I think when we can throw the ball vertically down the field, that’s obviously gonna add more to our offense.”
Oregon’s next play from scrimmage, a 90-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive from James four minutes later, was the longest play in Autzen Stadium history and the second longest in program history.
James eclipsed the century mark on the ground for the first time this season, carrying the ball 12 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns. With 45 career touchdowns, James is now tied with Derek Loville for the Oregon school record.
“I haven’t been frustrated,” said James, who was held to just 121 yards in the first two games combined. “Eventually it’s going to happen, games are gonna be like that sometimes. But as long as we keep winning than I’m happy.”
Thomas then hit Tuinei on a 34-yard touchdown pass three minutes later to give Oregon a 35-7 advantage heading into half time.
The Ducks got out of the gates quickly in third quarter, marching 75 yards on four plays, with James putting his final touch on the game with a 50-yard scoring run to effectively end his day.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Bryan Bennett took over the offense on the ensuing possession, leading Oregon on a nine-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Lyerla. Through two games, Lyerla has caught three passes, all of which have resulted in touchdowns.
Bennett continued to show strong poise on the next possession as he nearly duplicated the previous drive. Nine plays and 76 yards later, Bennett connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Eric Dungy on a 22-yard touchdown pass — the first of his Oregon career — to extend Oregon’s lead to the final margin of 56-7.
Thomas finished the game 11-for-15 with 206 yards and three touchdowns, while Bennett went 5-for-6 with 59 yards and two scores.
Missouri State sophomore quarterback Trevor Wooden, who played wide receiver for the Bears as a freshman in 2010, had a strong day under center. The 6-foot-2, 223-pounder completed six of his 13 pass attempts for 91 yards, and also picked up a team-high 67 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Oregon opens Pac-12 play a week from today when they travel to Tucson, Ariz., to take on the Arizona Wildcats at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN.
