Oregon’s 48-29 win over Arizona can be broken down along many points. For the No. 1 Ducks, who clinched the Pacific-10 Conference title against the Wildcats this weekend, three stand out.
The Option Run. The Drive. And The Touchdown Catch Across the Field.
Senior wide receiver D.J. Davis played a major role in all three.
“He’s amazing,” running back Kenjon Barner said. “He had some great plays. Unbelievable plays.”
The Denver native did not enter the game with the most receptions by a Duck player on the season, the most receiving yards or the most receiving touchdowns. Those accolades were held by Jeff Maehl, Jeff Maehl and Jeff Maehl.
But Maehl knows that the Oregon wide receiving corps is far more than Maehl.
“(Davis) doesn’t have the stat lines to get that recognition, but as an overall football player, he’s as good as they get,” Maehl said.
Davis is in the midst of a career year — 33 catches, 363 yards, two touchdowns — that is modest by most standards. Nevertheless, his overall technical prowess in blocking has made him invaluable to the Ducks.
“His blocking is something that goes unnoticed sometimes,” Maehl said. “Most of the time, when a big play is sprung, it’s because of him blocking.”
Case in point: Quarterback Darron Thomas’ option pitch to Josh Huff, who bobbled the ball briefly before securing it, in the third quarter. Two Arizona defenders keyed on Thomas, leaving Huff with open space.
Davis helped Huff turn a big gain into an 85-yard touchdown run by sealing off an Arizona defender at the sideline, disrupting two others and allowing Huff the little breathing room he needed to complete the play.
“Another day at the office,” Davis commented on that block.
The next drive for Oregon began at the Ducks’ 1-yard line, momentum clearly swung its way. Davis drew a pass interference penalty on a third-and-4 situation to extend the drive. After an Arizona offsides penalty on a field goal attempt breathed new life into the drive, Thomas broke free on a read-option run for a 20-yard touchdown.
A cut block by Davis at the second level set him free.
“He’s been doing that all year,” Maehl said.
“Any time you get someone in the end zone, you feel pretty good,” Davis said.
Later in the third quarter — such a big one for the Ducks, with 20 points scored — Thomas repaid Davis to an extent with a six-yard touchdown pass.
Thomas rolled out to his right on the play, while Davis faked an inside slant and cut to the left flat. Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade was a step slow on the adjustment, and Thomas’ throw across the field was on target.
“We practiced that all week, so we knew it was going to happen. We had to get the ball out pretty quick,” Davis said.
Davis’ stats were modest (three receptions for 31 yards and the touchdown catch) but impactful in his final home game as a Duck.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet that it’s my last game at Autzen,” he said.
What can be concluded, though, is that the man so often in the shadows stood out when it mattered most.
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