Oregon takes advantage of a missed opportunity
Ducks win in OT after Huskies miss a field goal on the last play of regulation.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon’s CJ Verdell rushed for 111 yards, but none were sweeter than the final six.
Verdell scored on a sixyard run in overtime and No. 17 Oregon knocked off No. 7 Washington 30-27 on Saturday.
When he sprinted nearly untouched on third-andgoal, it set off a wild celebration in the east end zone of Autzen Stadium.
“It worked out well for us. The game went into overtime and this time we finished the job,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said.
The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) were fortunate to reach overtime after Washington’s Peyton Henry missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of regulation. Henry’s kick was wide right.
“I feel bad for Peyton. That’s a lot of pressure for anyone, let alone a young guy,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “I wish they didn’t have that many timeouts. But Peyton’s a hard-working guy and he’s made a lot of field goals for us in his short career, and he will be back and he will be better.”
Washington (5-2, 3-1) took possession first in overtime but had to settle for Henry’s 22-yard kick after stalling inside the 10. The Huskies had a chance to force a long field goal as Oregon faced third-and-11 after a holding call. But Justin Herbert threw a strike to Dillon Mitchell for 17 yards and the Ducks had first-and-goal. Three plays later, Verdell sprinted into the end zone and soon after the field was a sea of green and yellow celebration of a rivalry victory and redemption after losing at home to Stanford last month.
Herbert didn’t have his best day, playing in front of a number of NFL executives that included Denver Broncos general manger John Elway, but it was enough. Herbert was 18 of 32 for 202 yards and two touchdowns — a 12-yarder to Mitchell and a nine-yard strike to Jaylon Redd late in the first half that pulled the Ducks even at 17-all at halftime.
Washington’s Jake Browning threw for 243 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown to Ty Jones in the third quarter.
“I thought he played well. That kid’s a tough kid. He’s not going to back down ever,” Petersen said. “He threw some tough, pinpoint balls in there and he stood up in the second half.”