No.
2 Oregon runs over Arizona State 43-21
By JOHN
MARSHALL (AP College Football Writer) | The Associated Press – Fri, Oct 19,
2012 12:39 AM EDT
TEMPE,
Ariz. (AP) -- Kenjon Barner ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns, Marcus
Mariota added 135 yards, and No. 2 Oregon manhandled Arizona State in a 43-21
victory Thursday night.
Facing its
first true road test, Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12) turned what was supposed to be a
duel in the desert into another we've-seen-this-before rout by running over the
Sun Devils in the first half.
The Ducks
had their way against what had been the Pac-12's best defense, racing to a
36-point halftime lead and rushing for 406 yards to win their nation-leading
12th straight road game.
Arizona
State (5-2, 3-1) got the start it wanted, forcing a fumble on Oregon's second
play and scoring a touchdown on its first.
The Sun
Devils wilted after that, unable to make up for the early loss of star
defensive tackle Will Sutton or find a way to slow down the Ducks as they raced
past.
Taylor
Kelly, the Pac-12's pass efficiency leader, threw two interceptions that set up
Oregon touchdowns in the first half and had 93 yards on 10-of-18 passing while
being chased by the Ducks most of the game.
Arizona
State's defense, its anchor through the first six games, allowed 454 total
yards, including 48 more rushing than it had the previous four games combined.
Mariota
threw for one touchdown, ran for another and had one receiving in his first
true road game.
 |
| Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles for yardage as he is pursued by Arizona State defenders during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) |
Sun Devil
Stadium hadn't been the stage for a game like this for some time, maybe back to
2005, when Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and No. 1 Southern California beat the Sun
Devils 38-28.
Oregon had
become the standard for success in the West, winning three straight Pac-12
titles, last season's Rose Bowl and earning a trip to the BCS title game the
year before that.
The Ducks
may be even better this season, again scoring points quickly and in bunches, with
an improved defense to go with it.
Arizona
State was one of the surprises the first half of the season, winning five games
and nearly pulling out a sixth under new coach Todd Graham.
To swat
down the Ducks on national TV would be a big boost to the Sun Devils, a
we-have-arrived moment that would turn the spotlight full blast toward the
desert.
More than
70,000 fans showed up for this highly anticipated duel, creating a ''black
out'' with their synchronized black shirts.
The Ducks
quickly made it look like they were attending a funeral in the first half.
Arizona
State at least got off to a good start, recovering a fumble by Mariota on
Oregon's second play, scoring 7 seconds later on a 28-yard touchdown pass from
Kelly to Kevin Ozier.
The game
had barely started, but that was about it for the Sun Devils, who lost Sutton
for the game and possibly longer to a right knee injury on Mariota's fumble.
Two plays
later, Barner ran up the middle, hesitated for a second and raced 71 yards for
a touchdown.
Then it was
Mariota to Bralon Addison for a 6-yard touchdown. Mariota was on the receiving
end for the next score, catching a 2-yard pass from backup Bryan Bennett, who
wriggled the ball forward while in the grasp of two defenders.
The first
of Kelly's two interceptions, by Boseko Lokombo, set up Barner for a 1-yard
scoring run. Mariota then raced up the middle 86 yards for a touchdown. Barner
scored again on a 1-yard run, again after an interception, this one by Avery
Patterson.
Oregon led
43-7 at halftime and had 329 yards rushing, 29 fewer than Arizona State allowed
against Colorado, California, Utah and Missouri combined.
The Ducks
coasted through the second half, resting many of their starters as Arizona
State scored two touchdowns.
It didn't
matter at that point.
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