Oklahoma proved why it is the No. 2 team in the country. Behind a
very strong running game and an efficient passing game, Oklahoma (3-0
overall) led the entire game, ending with a 31-7 victory over the
Ducks (0-2) in Norman, Okla., Saturday.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said he was not happy with the way
his team finished the game in the fourth quarter after trailing by
only 10 points at halftime.
“There are no moral victories,” Bellotti told KUGN-AM (590 AM).
“I’m not convinced that we’re getting everything we can. We need
to find a way to make some plays.”
Oregon had several chances to score throughout the game on Oklahoma’s defense, but they could only muster up seven points for the game.
Sooners running back Adrian Peterson tired out Oregon’s defense the whole day to total 176 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson, who is only a freshman, scored Oklahoma’s last 14 points, essentially sealing Oregon’s fate.
“Their running backs wore us down a little bit,” Bellotti told KUGN-AM. “Adrian Peterson is a heck of a back and when he’s fresh, he’s a tough one to tackle. We didn’t look very good at times with him.”
Oklahoma’s third-down conversions also played a key factor in the team’s success. The Sooners were 9-for-12 on third downs that gave Oklahoma several key first downs.
“They found a way to make key third down completions, which is to their credit,” Bellotti said to KUGN-AM. “Jason White threw the ball very well and their receivers responded with very good catches.”
White, who was last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 212 yards and one touchdown.
A big question heading into the game was whether the Ducks could recover after turning the ball over seven times against Indiana last week.
The Ducks only committed one turnover, which occurred near the end of the first half when quarterback Kellen Clemens fumbled after being sacked. Fortunately, the turnover did not result in an Oklahoma score.
Oklahoma went ahead 10-0 midway through the second quarter when White threw a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end James Moses.
In Oklahoma’s first drive of the third quarter, the Sooners drove 90 yards for a touchdown to increase the team’s lead to 17-0. Oklahoma backup running back Donta Hicks ran 35 yards for the score.
On Oregon’s next drive, the Ducks scored their first touchdown to cut the lead down to 17-7. Clemens threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to fullback Donte Rosario as part of an 80-yard, nine-play drive.
However, whatever momentum Oregon had, they couldn’t contain Oklahoma’s offense on the ensuing drive. Peterson ran 40 yards to increase the Sooners lead back to 17 points at 24-7 entering the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, special teams again plagued the Ducks’ chances to close the deficit after kicker Jared Siegel could not convert on two field goal attempts. On the first attempt with 11 minutes in the fourth quarter, Clemens could not handle the snap and Siegel ended up running for one yard.
On the second attempt with less than seven minutes left in the game, Oklahoma’s Brodney Pool blocked Siegel’s kick. Clemens said his team’s inability to score when they had a chance ultimately hurt them.
“What we need to do is make the most out of our opportunities that we had,” Clemens said to KUGN-AM. “We were in the red zone or at least very close to it very early in the first half and had the penalties that brought us back. We have to convert.”
For the game, Clemens threw for 183 yards and one touchdown Oregon’s rushing attack of Terrence Whitehead and Kenny Washington produced 97 yards on 22 carries.
After the game, Bellotti said he “ripped” into his players, expressing how disappointed he was to begin the season 0-2.
“The way we finished the game, we were not getting there or getting it done,” Bellotti said to KUGN-AM. “I don’t care if it’s against Indiana or Oklahoma – I’m not very pleased with the way we played.”
Oregon will continue its non-conference schedule at home against Idaho at 12:30 p.m. next Saturday.
Bellotti told KUGN-AM after the game that it is now his responsibility to get his team back on track and get its first victory next week.
“One of the things we’ve down as a program is overachieve, and right now I don’t perceive that to be the case,” Bellotti said.”I think we’re underachieving, and it’s up to me to get them to play at the level that I think they’re capable of.”