Opposites define rivalry games.
No. 1 Oregon and Washington took it to another level Saturday afternoon, in the Ducks’ 53-16 victory over the Huskies. Oregon came out in its all-black uniform combination; Washington took the field in white uniforms and pants, with gold helmets.
The Ducks’ play on the field was equal parts Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll. Ten penalties for 107 yards, four fumbles and a minus-2 turnover margin were offset by 522 total yards of offense and an average kick return of 42 yards.
A state- and Autzen-record 60,017 fans watched in ecstasy as Kenjon Barner returned to action for the first time since the concussion he suffered against Washington State. Barner’s first carry was a one-yard rush on a fly sweep in the first quarter; he finished with nine carries for 60 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
The same fans watched in horror as backup quarterback Nate Costa left the game, clutching his right knee after being tackled on a botched field goal. Having overcome three torn anterior cruciate ligament tears, and three grueling rehabilitations, the senior leader’s injury meant so much more than the loss of a backup quarterback and holder.
Barner’s return was heartening.
“I was very happy that he got that touchdown at the end,” said wide receiver Jeff Maehl, who caught seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. “I think he was a little nervous. Anytime you come off an injury as scary as that you’re going to be a little nervous. But once he got in there and got his feet wet again, he was just fine.”
Costa’s exit was heartbreaking.
“You never like to see a teammate down like that,” center Jordan Holmes said. “Nate’s one of my best friends in the world, one of my roommates, and I take that to heart. It’s tough anytime a teammate goes down.”
First, the good news. The sophomore Barner adds yet another explosive offensive option and a dual threat with LaMichael James in the backfield. His conditioning level was not up to par for head coach Chip Kelly’s offense, but that figures to come in time.
“It was a lot different than practice,” he said. “I got tired a lot faster. It was just different.
“The first time I got the ball on that fly, I came around and I seen three guys. I said, ‘Oh, this is how it’s going to be, huh?’”
Barner is the No. 1 punt and kickoff returner when healthy, but special teams coach Tom Osborne will wait before testing him in that avenue.
“Let’s get him back on the bike — like he’s a little kid who fell off his bike, he’s got to get up and get back going,” he said. “He’s got to get the feel of getting hit. When you’re a returner and people are taking 40-, 50-, 60-yard runs at you, that’s a different deal from running (from the offense).”
Barner is excited to begin returning kicks and punts again.
“It’s definitely something I’ll be back there doing,” Barner said. “I missed it a lot.”
Now for the bad. Costa, a native of Hilmar, Calif., made arguably the play of the game after James’ 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Oregon came out in the swinging gate, but Costa — the usual holder on place kicks — signaled back to the Ducks to try for the extra point. When the snap came, Costa handed off to Beard, running up the middle and through a big crease for two points.
“We saw they had a hole opening,” Beard said. “Nate just handed me the ball and I ran up the middle.”
Oregon led 25-13 in the third quarter when, facing a fourth-and-6, Kelly elected to try a field goal. Jeff Palmer’s snap was clean, but Costa mishandled it. He picked up the ball and ran for what would be a 14-yard loss, injuring his knee on the play. He would leave the game later on a cart and did not return.
The issues facing the Ducks in light of Costa’s injury are threefold. He is adept at holding for kicks, equally so at running fakes. Punter Jackson Rice filled in for Costa the rest of the game; quarterback Darron Thomas would replace him in case of emergency.
“He can make those decisions and execute those plays,” Osborne said of Costa. “When you don’t have him in there, that will change things for us.”
Procedurally, nothing will change — Osborned said there is “no question” as to continuing the swinging gate formation with Rice as the “quarterback.”
Additionally, Costa is, in Holmes’ words, “a very talented quarterback.”
“Nate’s been in some clutch situations,” he said. “To have a talented backup quarterback — it’s very important to our program.”
Redshirting freshman Bryan Bennett is the third-string quarterback, though redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins has experience at that position. Kelly would not comment on a contingency plan, and grew defensive when pressed. One reporter asked him if he was comfortable with the backup quarterback situation; Kelly asked the reporter if he would consider suiting up.
Finally, Costa is a team leader and an experienced veteran, whose intangible presence is felt by everyone. Heavy participation or not, he will be missed on the sidelines.
“Nate’s a great guy,” Barner said. “I’ve gotten close with him this year, and for that to happen is unfortunate.”
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