Pain of missed chance eased by defensive TD

EUGENE, Ore. — Stanford missed a scoring opportunity at the end of the first half, sending the Oregon players into the locker room to an ovation from the crowd. In the third quarter, the Ducks returned the favor.

The Cardinal took over at their 36 with 1:49 left in the half. They were out of timeouts, having used all three on the previous defensive series to limit the Ducks to a field goal.

Following a couple of Bryce Love runs, Stanford reached the Oregon 37, but K.J. Costello fumbled when he was sacked by Justin Hollins. Center Jesse Burkett fell on the fumble at the Stanford 45, but time ran out before the Cardinal could get another snap off.

Oregon had a strange sequence of its own in the third quarter after reaching the Stanford 1. Running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio fumbled, but quarterback Justin Herbert recovered for a loss of 9 yards. A run by CJ Verdell got back 6 yards. Then the Ducks fumbled again. Herbert couldn’t handle center Jake Hanson’s high snap, and Stanford’s Joey Alfieri returned the fumble 80 yards for a touchdown.

Edwards misses game: Stanford starting safety Ben Edwards was a late scratch with an undisclosed injury. He was tied for fifth on the team in tackles with 15. Malik Antoine, a converted cornerback, started in his place.

The Cardinal already were short a defensive starter, outside linebacker Casey Toohill. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Fox started in his place.

In another late move, the offensive line was reshuffled over injuries. Devery Hamilton, who has been in the rotation at left guard along with Brandon Fanaika and Foster Sarell, joined Sarell on the injured list for the game. Fanaika started this time.

Although right tackle A.T. Hall was scheduled to play despite a minor injury, right guard Nate Herbig moved to starting right tackle. Redshirt freshman Drew Dalman, who started the first two games at center in place of injured Jesse Burkett, started at right guard.

The upshot was that, in the fourth game of the season, left tackle Walker Little was the only offensive lineman who started in the same spot that he did in the opener.

Briefly: Stanford’s Jake Bailey bombed a 56-yard punt out of bounds in the second quarter . ... The Cardinal’s JJ ArcegaWhiteside has nine touchdown catches in his past 4½ games, including the Alamo Bowl at the end of last season. … This was the first time in the last seven games Stanford allowed an opponent to score on its opening drive, and the first time in eight games it allowed a TD on the opening drive.

Tom FitzGerald is a Chronicle staff writer.

Chris Pietsch / Associated Press Stanford’s Bryce Love looks for running room in the first quarter. The senior, who had a slow start, had 19 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown.