Saturday afternoon’s home opener was a record-setting day for the No. 11 Oregon Ducks.
The Oregon squad set a handful of modern-era records en route to a 72-0 blowout over the visiting New Mexico Lobos. From the first possession, it was clear New Mexico would be no match for the speedy Oregon ground game.
Redshirt sophomore running back Kenjon Barner paced the Ducks with five first-half touchdowns. The Riverside, Calif., native carried the ball 17 times for 147 yards and four scores, while also catching one pass for another 60 yards and his final touchdown of day.
“The depth we have on both sides of the ball, especially offensively right now, we got a lot of guys contributing,” second-year head coach Chip Kelly said.
Recording his first career start at running back, Barner shattered his previous single-game career high of 64 rushing yards well before the end of the first quarter. He concluded the day with 225 all-purpose yards, in what was one of the finer offensive performances in program history.
The Ducks set the single-game record for total yards with 720, while pounding out 369 rushing yards with another 351 through the air. Oregon’s mark of 72 points also tied the program’s single-game record in the modern era, having reached the same feat against Nevada during the 1999 season.
New Mexico had very little to show on either side of the ball throughout the day, particularly after the first-quarter departure of junior linebacker Carmen Messina. Messina, the heart of the Lobo defense, injured his left ankle with five minutes left in the quarter, leaving room for an offensive juggernaut to impose its will.
Sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas marched the Ducks down the field on the opening possession before a missed block on a first down screen pass resulted in a Joe Stoner interception. From there, Thomas eventually settled in and found a rhythm, completing 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think it was a miscue on the play,” Thomas said of the interception. “But like I said, it calmed me down, got me ready to go out there and make some plays.”
After a muffed snap that squirted through the legs of New Mexico punter Ben Skaer, Oregon took over at the Lobo 20-yard line and Barner found the end zone five plays later on a one-yard scamper. Barner finished the half with scoring runs of one, 25, 10 and 41 yards, in addition to the 60-yard scoring reception.
“They were all fun,” Barner said. “I can’t pick and choose between them. They were all pretty fun.”
Oregon sophomore Cliff Harris made a spectacular debut returning punts for the Ducks. The speedy cornerback returned two punts for touchdowns during the Ducks 31-point second quarter, the first a 61-yard scamper and the second a 64-yard return with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. The two punt return touchdowns tie a single-year school record for punt return touchdowns.
“I can’t take all the credit,” a giddy Harris said after the game. “You know, I’ve got to give it to the blockers up front that opened the hole for me to run through.”
Junior tight end David Paulson also recorded his first collegiate touchdown in the opening quarter on a 30 strike over the middle from Thomas.
Redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins capped the Oregon scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run with more than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
As a team, New Mexico finished with 25 yards rushing and 82 more through the air. Wide receiver Ty Kirk pulled in eight receptions for 48 yards to lead the Lobos.
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Top Performers
Kenjon Barner — 17 carries for 147 yards and four TDs; one reception for 60 yards and one TD
Darron Thomas — 13 of 23 passing for 220 yards and two TDs
Cliff Harris — 125 return yards, two TDs
Ducks tie, break single-game records at Autzen
Daily Emerald
September 3, 2010
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