The biggest non-conference matchup of the season lived up to the hype as the Oregon Ducks trumped the Michigan State Spartans 46-27 at Autzen Stadium Saturday night.
Despite Michigan State having the second-ranked defense in the nation last year, Oregon’s offense proved to be a bit too much for the Spartans. Erick Dargan got the ball rolling with an interception in the beginning of the game, running the ball back 36 yards. Thomas Tyner pushed over the goal line for a 1 yard touchdown, and Oregon converted for another two points to take an early lead at 8-0.
After leading 11-0 following a 28-yard field goal by Matt Wogan, Michigan State responded with a 16 yard scoring run by Jeremy Langford. Quarterback Connor Cook tacked on another 7-yard touchdown pass to Devon Allen to put the Spartans ahead 24-18. A 42-yard field goal by Michael Geiger put the Spartans up 27-18, but Mariota followed with a touchdown pass to Allen to put the Ducks within two points.
The most pivotal point of the game was when Mariota pitched the ball 17 yards to freshman Royce Freeman. At that point, Oregon’s offense had dominated the game by scoring four successive touchdowns, unanswered every time. Mariota threw two touchdown passes during the third quarter, one to Keanon Lowe and the other to Freeman, who ran for two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“We’re 2-0, but it doesn’t change our mentality at all,” Mariota said. “We want to build up on this win for the rest of the year.
Mariota ended the game with three touchdowns, going 17 for 28 for 318 yards. Cook completed 29 of 47 passes of 343 yards, a personal best. Saturday’s loss snapped an 11-game win streak for the Spartans, who went 13-1 last year after winning the Big Ten and topping Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
The Spartans were on the hunt for victory, but their efforts weren’t enough to weigh down the wings of Mariota and his fellow Ducks.
*Section Photo credit to Allen Kee, ESPN Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Ryan Kang, Daily Emerald
