Football Recap: Ducks top Bruins 34-13

The #8 Oregon Ducks headed to their Big 10 opener, taking on the UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl. It was also the first showing of Big 10 After Dark, starting at 8 p.m. on the West Coast. “Pac-12 After Dark” was often a deadline show with crazy plays, crazy surprises and wild endings.

Oregon, fresh off a week off after losing to its little brother in Corvalis, faced a familiar foe in its former Pac, now Big Conference opponent. UCLA has been hit hard by injuries so far this year, with 19 players missing for the game. The Ducks have 8 players sitting out.

It didn't take long for the Ducks to establish themselves. Dillon Gabriel connected with Traeshon Holden for a 12-yard score, capping a 12-play, 75-yard first drive. Oregon wouldn't even see a 3^approx until they were already in Bruin territory.

UCLA would respond with a 12-play drive of its own, but Oregon's defense kept the home team out of the end zone and they would settle for a field goal. The Ducks answered with their own field goal two and a half minutes later after their drive that saw three consecutive plays end at 1^st Depths.

After kickoff, the UCLA QB gave the Ducks excellent field position when he threw an interception on the second play of the drive after the first was negated by a penalty. Oregon would need 6 plays and another two and a half minutes to score again, this time on a 2-yard run by Jordan James, due to penalties on both sides.

UCLA went 3-and-out before striking back to the Ducks, who scored in just 3 plays when Gabriel hit Tex Johnson for a 52-yard touchdown completion. They would add two more with the successful 2pt conversion on a pass from Kenyon Sadiq to Terrance Ferguson.

Another Bruins three-and-out would be thanks in no small part to a sack by Matayo Uiagalelei on second down^nd and 2. Oregon's drive would stall on the edge of the red zone and Atticus Sappington would add another field goal to bring the score to 28-3 in favor of the Ducks.

As the second half waned, UCLA again went 3-3, giving Oregon a chance to extend the lead before halftime. Unfortunately, Gabriel was subbed out by former Duck Bryan Addison, who would go 96 yards on pick 6. The score at halftime: 28-10

The second half was characterized by slow starts for both teams, with both teams stumbling after short drives. UCLA would add a field goal on its second drive of the half to make it a 2-score game, 28-13.

Oregon would punt again and a promising UCLA drive would end in a turnover when Tysheem Johnson picked off Ethan Garbers.

The Ducks made the score 34-13 after an 11-play, 61-yard drive that lasted 5:23.

UCLA wouldn't get past midfield on their next attack without throwing the ball away. Oregon would ice the game with an 11-play drive that took advantage of the final 7 minutes left.

Gabriel finished 31 of 41 for 278 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Jordan James managed 103 yards on 20 carries on the ground, while Tez Johnson had 121 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 catches.

Next

The Ducks return to Autzen to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night.