Ducks end season on rose-scented sour note
Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli, right, scores a touchdown as Ohio State's Brian Rolle defends during the third quarter at the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) By Associated PressPASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Oregon's potent offense met its match in Ohio State. Multimedia
The Ducks' spread-option bogged down in the Rose Bowl, and No. 7 Oregon lost 26-17 on Friday in its first appearance in Pasadena on New Year's Day since 1995. Known for their scrambling, gambling and fast pace, the Ducks had the ball less than 19 minutes — and that wasn't a good thing. After taking a 17-16 lead on the first possession of the second half on Jeremiah Masoli's 1-yard plunge, the Ducks were shut out the rest of the way. They had only two possessions in the fourth quarter, ending in a punt and missed field goal. Tailback LeGarrette Blount, suspended after his postgame punch at Boise State's Byron Hout in a season-opening loss, scored a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter. But with the Ducks trailing 19-17 in the third quarter, Blount committed a costly fumble and No. 8 Ohio State recovered in the end zone. The Ducks never were that close to scoring again and they fell to 0-8 against the Buckeyes. Freshman tailback LaMichael James, who emerged as a star replacement for Blount, was the Ducks' leading rusher with 15 carries for 79 yards. Blount saw most of his action in the second half, with five carries for 36 yards. The Ducks outran the Buckeyes 179-153, but Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor dominated Masoli in passing, 266 yards to just 81. Masoli had directed an offense that racked up more than 37 points and 424 yards per game this season while ending Southern California's seven-year reign as Pac-10 champions.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press) Earlier story PASADENA, Calif. -- Terrelle Pryor and the Ohio State Buckeyes took control and kept a steady pace against the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl, keeping the Ducks to just 17 points in the 26-17 win. Ohio State held on to the ball for 41:37 of the game, keeping Jeremiah Masoli on the Duck sideline while rival quarterback Pryor ran the field. Pryor passed for a season-high 266 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 72 more and threw a 17-yard scoring pass to DeVier Posey with 7:02 to play, ending the No. 8 Buckeyes' three-game BCS skid with a 26-17 victory over No. 7 Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Friday. Posey had eight catches for 101 yards, and Brandon Saine caught an early TD pass for the Buckeyes (11-2), who put together a remarkably fluid offensive performance in their first trip to Pasadena since 1997. That offense relied on Pryor, the sophomore quarterback who has had a hard time matching his enormous hype. With a Rose Bowl effort that evoked memories of Vince Young's breakout performance in the same stadium four years ago, Pryor shook off his early mistakes and led the Buckeyes confidently through a tense fourth quarter. Yet Ohio State's defense did much of the work, largely reducing the Ducks' high-flying, no-huddle offense to ineffectiveness. Jeremiah Masoli passed for just 81 yards, while LaMichael James rushed for 70 — but a series of big plays and kick returns by Kenjon Barner kept the 96th Rose Bowl close until Pryor took control of the final minutes. Oregon (10-3) made a remarkable comeback from its season-opening loss to Boise State, but it hasn't won the Rose Bowl since the game's third edition in 1917, back when the Granddaddy of Them All was a toddler. Most Popular |
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February 9, 2012
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
