Washington State Cougars vs Oregon Ducks Match Player Stats On Oct 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 8, 2017

EUGENE, Ore. -- It was not pretty but 11th-ranked Washington State is still undefeated.

In a game featuring high-powered offenses, it was the Cougars' defense that was the determining factor. Facing Oregon's third-string quarterback in true freshman Braxton Burmeister, the Cougars didn't allow the Ducks to score after the first quarter en route to a 33-10 Washington State victory on Saturday.

The Cougars (6-0, 2-0 Pac-12) allowed just 277 total yards, all while forcing three turnovers and limiting Oregon (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) to 2-for-17 on third down.

Washington quarterback Luke Falk threw for 282 yards on 24-of-42 passing and three touchdowns. At times, Falk appeared bothered by the size and athleticism of Oregon's defensive line, struggling on third down (2-for-13). Still, his command of the offense led to multiple big plays.

Three different Cougars caught touchdown passes, led by Kyle Sweet's six catches for 82 yards and Isaiah Johnson-Mack's three catches for 56 yards.

The first two plays of the fourth quarter were the deciding points of the game.

Leading 23-10, Washington State picked off an underthrown ball by Burmeister and returned it to the Ducks' 26-yard line. On the next play, Falk hit Johnson-Mack for the touchdown pass, making the score 30-10.

Leading 13-10 at halftime, Falk and the Cougars marched 75 yards for a score on their first possession of the third quarter. The big play came on third-and-19 from the Cougars' 16-yard line, when Falk converted a first down on a 29-yard back-shoulder throw to Johnson-Mack. Four plays later, Falk completed a 10-yard scoring pass to Renard Bell for the 20-10 advantage.

The Cougars added to their lead when kicker Erik Powell hit a 47-yard field goal, one of his four made kicks in the game.

Washington State got the ball back when Burmeister fumbled after being hit on third down. The Cougars recovered at Oregon's 44 yard line, putting Falk in business.

The Ducks were without five starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert and their top two wide receivers, Charles Nelson and Dillon Mitchell.

Although Oregon got running back Royce Freeman back this week from injury, he was held to 62 yards on 11 carries.

Burmeister finished his first college start by going 14 of 24 with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 14 times for minus-8 yards, including four sacks.

The game didn't get off to a great start for Oregon.

Before Burmeister could even take his first snap, the Ducks were hit with back-to-back false-start penalties. After a first down, the drive stalled when facing a fourth-and-1. Oregon went for it but Freeman was stopped short, giving the ball to Falk and Washington State in Oregon territory.

Falk needed just one play to get the Cougars on the board. He hit a check-down pass to running back Jamal Morrow, who took the ball 41 yards for the score just two minutes into the game.

The rest of the first quarter belonged to Oregon.

The Ducks, aided by two bad Cougar punts, began two of their drives in Washington State territory. A 20-yard field goal by Aidan Schneider and a 32-yard touchdown pass by Burmeister gave Oregon a 10-7 lead.

Oregon's defense also gave up just 7 yards the rest of the quarter after the Falk touchdown pass, forcing three three-and-outs.

Washington State tied the game early in the second quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Erik Powell. Powell then gave the Cougars a 13-10 lead when he drilled a 52-yarder midway through the quarter.

NOTES: Oregon started true freshman QB Braxton Burmeister. Burmeister replaced starter Justin Herbert, who fractured his collarbone last week and is out 4-6 weeks... The Ducks got RB Royce Freeman back after he left last week's game with an upper-body injury and didn't return... Three NFL scouts (Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams) were in attendance for the game while the BC Lions of the CFL were also at Autzen Stadium.