Field Level Media
Nov 21, 2020
Tyler Shough threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as No. 11 Oregon created 28 points off four UCLA turnovers in a 38-35 Pac-12 Conference win at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Shough completed 19 of 30 passes for the 3-0 Ducks, with Devon Williams catching six throws for 123 yards and a touchdown. Shough got plenty of help from a defense that failed to force a turnover in season-opening wins over Stanford and Washington State.
Oregon made up for that and then some against the 1-2 Bruins, who didn't have starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He was one of nine players declared out for the game because of issues related to COVID-19; Thompson-Robinson said in two tweets that he didn't have the virus.
Redshirt freshman Chase Griffin played in Thompson-Robinson's place and connected on 19 of 31 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, but also tossed two interceptions and lost a fumble. All resulted in Oregon scores.
The most critical error came on the first half's final play. Jordan Happle picked off a Griffin pass and zipped 58 yards for a touchdown that turned a 21-17 UCLA lead into a 24-21 Ducks edge at intermission.
Oregon took the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards in just over three minutes, with CJ Verdell scoring on a 4-yard run to make it 31-21. The Ducks were able to keep the Bruins at arm's length for the game's remainder despite a brilliant performance from running back Demetric Felton.
The senior pounded away for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. His tackle-breaking 11-yard scoring run with 3:43 left in the game capped a 90-yard drive that pulled UCLA within three points.
The Bruins came up with a stop and got the ball back at their 19 with 1:17 remaining. They quickly reached the Oregon 39, but a false start penalty wiped out a completion that would have placed them at the edge of field goal range.
Griffin's 4th-and-12 pass with 19 seconds left went in and out of the hands of a diving Kyle Phillips to seal the outcome.
--Field Level Media