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Mark Helfrich on Ducks’ season: ‘We didn’t win enough games’

It was the first sellout at Reser Stadium since the 2014 Civil War.

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After starting off slow early in the first quarter on both offense and defense, the Ducks eventually came to life and were tied-up 7-7 going into the second quarter.

The Beavers found the end zone on their next drive, capping a 6:33 drive with a 6-yard toss from Marcus McMaryion to Ricky Ortiz. Davis scored again on a 3-yard run with 1:16 left. Seventeen seniors who were honored before the game went out winners.

It was probably a good thing that Nike founder and OR booster Phil Knight spent the afternoon at the Michigan-Ohio State game, because he didn’t have to watch the Ducks struggle yet again. The Ducks stretched the lead to 24-14 when kicker Aidan Schneider made a 46-yard field goal. Nall wore down the OR defense and had 61 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. The rain was coming down and I didn’t even have to think about throwing the ball. All surrounded by delirious Beaver fans who had waited a long time for this rival game to turn around.

After forcing a Ducks punt, the Beavers took another 5:17 off the clock keeping the ball on the ground leading up the Nall’s fourth score with 1:50 left.

Oregon running back Tony Brooks-James (20) makes his way through the Oregon State defense in the fir …

Defensive back Tyree Robinson added, “It’s not all on Helfrich”. This worked several times, all in critical down-and-distace situations. The Ducks upset then-No.

Few backup quarterbacks get to start a big rivalry game, much less two. Marcus Mariota got drafted, and without him, OR and Helfrich are just 13-12, and maybe still without the right guy at quarterback despite two years that have gone by. “A lot of positivity comes from him, a lot of players feed off that”. “Everybody stepped up and made some plays”. Oregon State didn’t need to throw the football, so they didn’t.

FILE- – In this October 29, 2016, file photo, OR quarterback Justin Herbert passes in the second quarter against Arizona in an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore. This was a clear case of what happens when coaches are having to throw bodies into the game because of injuries. It has not been “cleaned up”. OR is not good enough, or strong enough, to overcome those obstacles.

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“And third is to point out the facts, and know that we have a great staff, when you look at all the accomplishments, and to also confirm that our expectations haven’t changed”. The Beavers converted 7 of 12 third down attempts. Linebackers Caleb Saulo and ManaseHungalu, with a combined average of 15.3 tackles per game, lead a defensewhich ranks in the middle of the Pac-12 pack at 31.1 points and 433.3 yardssurrendered per game. “When you take this job, or you have a job like this, that’s how it goes”. P.J.’s motivational tactics have second-to-none as he’s coined the phrase “Row the Boat” in order to keep his team focused and on track when things aren’t going well.

Seniors attempt to finish season with Civil War victory