Arizona celebrates its upset of No. 4 Oregon.(Photo Scott Olmos USA TODAY Sports)
EUGENE Ore. Breaking down No. 4 Oregon's 31 24 loss Thursday night vs. Arizona
THE BIG PICTURE Oregon's national outlook so bright after a Sept. 6 win against Michigan State dimmed with a seven point win at Washington State two weeks later. In this game the lights went out. The Ducks are 1 1 in the Pac 12 with seven conference games remaining in the regular season.
Oregon (4 1) entered this week No. 34 in FBS and third among unbeaten teams in strength of schedule. But a home loss to an unranked team no matter how potent is sure to be a problem in the eyes of the College Football Playoff selection committee. That is if the Ducks are even in the discussion once the committee convenes in the final weekend of October.
And despite another elite performance by current Heisman trophy favorite Marcus Mariota voters have shown that singlehanded excellence does not beat out a loss these days.
BOX SCORE Wildcats 31 No. 4 Ducks 24
After a 26 point loss to Arizona last season Oregon didn't need a lot of motivation for this game. But what it did need and continues to lack is a healthy offensive line. Oregon remains without three expected offensive line starters who are injured and it continues to show with a proliferation of sacks of Mariota and difficulty in the interior running game.
Arizona was able to get pressure all game and sack Mariota five times while rushing only three players a scheme that allowed the Wildcats to play with three linebackers and five defensive backs the entire game. Couple that with an undisclosed injury Oregon's coaches said Mariota suffered against Washington State that led them to limit their QB run calls and Oregon's offense was limited in key ways.
Anytime you can pressure the passer with a three man rush you can defend a lot of other things said Oregon coach Mark Helfrich. You can change up the coverage and you can limit the ability to throw downfield and that's what they did for the majority of the night.
Oregon also needed its top defensive tackle Arik Armstead who went to the locker room with a bare left foot during the second quarter and did not return. Armstead's absence wasn't the only reason for Arizona's third quarter offensive outburst but it played a role. He was wearing a walking boot on this lower left leg after the game.
Arizona with aggressive talent at every level of its defense is one of two unbeaten teams in the Pac 12 South and appears to have a quickly rising ceiling.
KEY PLAY Arizona (5 0 2 0) had third down and goal at the Oregon 1 yard line with 2 58 left to play. Quarterback Anu Solomon took a shotgun snap handed to running back Terris Jones Grigsby and he burrowed his way into the end zone for a touchdown that helped the Wildcats go up 31 24.
The touchdown was set up by two other key moments First Arizona converted a third and 20 play at the Oregon 33 on a 24 yard run up the middle by Jones Grigsby. Second Oregon's Tony Washington sacked Solomon for a nine yard loss on third and goal at the Oregon 8 but was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for bowing to the crowd afterward. That gave Arizona a fresh set of downs and it scored the winning TD three plays later.
Of Washington's penalty Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said I believe a lot in Tony Washington and that's not a very good time to make that play.
KEY STAT Arizona made headlines with a school record 36 point fourth quarter in its previous outing a 49 45 win that climaxed with the 'Hill Mary' from Solomon to Austin Hill. But it arguably had a more impressive quarter right after halftime against Oregon. The Wildcats gained 253 yards and scored 21 points in first 12 minutes of the second half. Oregon had allowed a total of three points in the third quarter all season prior to Thursday.
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Last SlideNext SlideKEY STAT II For the third time in five games Oregon allowed more than 100 yards rushing in a single half. Against Arizona the Ducks gave up 102 in the first half but still held a 7 3 lead at intermission. However Arizona rushed for 38 more on its opening drive of the second half and quickly took its second lead of the game 10 7. The Wildcats tacked on a total of 106 rushing yards in the second half to finish with 208
COOL STAT Solomon's first half 70 yards passing 17 yards rushing 21 yards receiving 48 yards punting.
BREAKOUT PLAYER Arizona running back Nick Wilson fortified his campaign for freshman All America honors with 92 yards rushing on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Wilson weeks ago erased any concerns about the departure of former Wildcats star Ka'Deem Carey and looks like one of the best offensive threats in the Pac 12 regardless of class.
PLAY OF THE GAME (LOSING CAUSE) Oregon trailed 3 0 and had 1st down and 10 at the Arizona 26 yard line on the second play of the second quarter. Mariota took the shotgun snap and pitched it right to running back Royce Freeman who rolled right and threw the ball across his body to none other than Mariota.
Mariota beat Wildcats cornerback Jarvis McCall and went head to head with safety Jared Tevis crossing the plane into the end zone. The touchdown catch Mariota's second of his career gave Oregon a 7 3 lead.
Usually I lob it to him (in practice) Freeman said but I don't know what happened. I just threw a dart.
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