SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 19, 2012
No. 2 Oregon 43, No. 24 Arizona State 21: Kenjon Barner ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns as the second-ranked Ducks scored 36 straight points in the first half to cruise past the 24th-ranked Sun Devils.
Redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota threw for a touchdown, ran for another and caught a TD pass for Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12), which overcame a fumble on the second play of the game - its lone blemish of the night - and tied Alabama for the longest winning streak in the FBS at 10 games.
It was also the Ducks' FBS-best 12th straight road win.
Oregon, ranked third in the first BCS standings, made a statement against what was statistically one of the better defenses in the nation. The Ducks' up-tempo offense scored 28 points in a span of 4:28 and wore down the Sun Devils (5-1, 3-1), who lost three defensive lineman to injury in the first half - including potential first-round pick Will Sutton.
Sutton provided the Sun Devils' lone highlight early, as he stripped Mariota in Oregon territory. One play later, Taylor Kelly hit Kevin Ozier for a 28-yard touchdown and the home crowd was in a frenzy.
The euphoria - and the lead - lasted just 23 seconds. Sutton didn't return after suffering a knee injury on the fumble and, on the next series, Barner broke free up the middle for a 71-yard TD run.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Sutton, who entered second in the nation with 8 1/2 sacks, was seen on crutches on the sidelines. ... Mariota's fumble was the Ducks' 18th of the season - the third highest total in the FBS. ... Mariota caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter from backup Bryan Bennett, who ran the option and flipped the ball ahead at the last minute. Mariota added an 86-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. ... Oregon registered 377 yards in the first half.