Cougs Come Up Short in Autzen

The Cougs entered Autzen stadium looking for the upset win, but their plans were foiled as the game came to an end with a winning field from 26 yards out by Camden Lewis to give the Ducks the 37-35 win.  Anthony Gordon threw for 406 yards on 32-50 passing with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

The Ducks coming into this game had lost four straight games to the Cougs and were bringing one of the top defenses in the league, so the Cougs offense was going to have to figure out how to move the ball.  On their first possession of the game, the Cougs marched down the field.  On 3rd down and goal from the Duck 19, Gordon’s pass to Rodrick Fisher was dropped in the end-zone and the Cougs settled for the Blake Mazza Field goal from 36 yards out to give them the early 3-0 lead.  The Ducks equalized the score on their next drive with a 40 yard field goal from Camden Lewis.  On the first play of the Duck’s next possession, CJ Verdell beat the entire Cougars defense for an 89 yard touchdown run.  “I’m not sure what happened, we’ll have to look at the film,” Cougar safety Tyrese Ross said following the game. This marks the third game this season that the Cougs have given up an 85 yard or more touchdown play.

Max Borghi got the Cougs in the end zone midway through the 2^nd with a 1 yard run to give the Cougs the lead back at 10-9.  On the next WSU possession, a 3^rd and 25 turned into a pick-six for the Ducks as Jevon Holland took it in from 19 yards out to give the Ducks a 17-10 lead with 2 minutes remaining in the first half.  The Cougars thrive in pressure situations and a two minute drive at the end of the half was no exception.  Gordon needed just 47 seconds to find Renard Bell from 15 yards out to tie the score at 17 going into the locker room.

                Oregon got to work early in the 2^nd half and CJ Verdell touched the ball 7 of 8 plays including a 16 yard touchdown screen pass to put the Ducks back on top 24-17.  Verdell added another touchdown run early in the 4^th quarter to put the Ducks up 31-20. Anthony Gordon then went to work from his own 11-yard line.  He led a 7 play, 89 yard drive in 2:19 ending in a 19-yard Brandon Arconado touchdown pass followed by a successful 2-point conversion to Arcanado to pull the Cougs within 3 points.  Oregon was able to tack on a Lewis 30-yard field goal to make the score 34-28.  The Cougs had one last chance to take the lead with 2:55 remaining in the game.  Gordon used a defensive pass interference and a 48 yard strike to Tae Martin to bring the Cougs into the Red Zone.  WSU was able to get it down to the 5-yard line and on 4^th and 3, Gordon connected with Arcanado on a slant for the touchdown to give the Cougs a 35-34 lead with a minute to play in the game. Unfortunately for the Cougs, this was more than enough time for Herbert to march down to the WSU 8-yard line and kick a game winning field goal to break the hearts of Cougar Nation.  “This was the best game we played this season,” coach Mike Leach said following the game.  The Cougs have a bye this coming week before going to Berkeley to face the good defense of the Cal Golden Bears.  The Cougs follow that up with two home games versus lowly Stanford and Oregon State which will make them bowl eligible.  The Cougs sit at 4-4, but with a favorable schedule down the stretch still have a chance of finishing 8-4.