Stanford tried a McCaffrey pass on its first drive of the game. When USC can effectively run the ball like they did against Arizona, OR will find themselves in more man coverage and that can lead to explosive plays through the air.
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“We need to keep working as a team defensively”, said Cal junior forward Christian Thierjung. Without the win, however, the team must hope that it can beat out a few of the other teams on the cusp of reaching the NCAA Tournament. “I feel really good”.
The Cardinal (8-2, 7-1 Pac-12) can clinch the North Division title with a victory in next Saturday’s Big Game against Cal, but their second loss no doubt will take them out of the playoff discussion.
Despite all that, Hogan had a chance when he threw his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter to Greg Taboada with 10 seconds left to cut Oregon’s lead to 38-36.
Ugo Amadi sealed the win at Washington with an interception, Arrion Springs ended the triple-overtime thriller with an interception at Arizona State, Khalil Oliver prevented California’s comeback attempt with an interception and Joe Walker got a finger nail on Stanford’s failed two-point conversion attempt.
The defense, which takes bend-but-don’t-break to a new level, couldn’t stop Hogan and McCaffrey (147 yards rushing) between the 20s, but it played well when it had to: The Cardinal managed just three touchdowns in six trips into the red zone.
“I don’t have a comment, ” Shaw said when asked about the playoffs.
“I was telling (Jeff) Lockie on the sideline, it’s insane, he’s always open”, says Adams, who completed his first nine passes at Stanford, finishing 10 of 12 for 205 yards and two TDs.
The loss didn’t eliminate the seventh-ranked Cardinal (8-2, 7-1) from contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but it came mighty close. When the Cardinal beat the Colorado Buffaloes two weeks ago, they needed Cal, their own rivals, to help them out with a win over OR to secure the Pac-12 North crown for the Cardinal.
“Any time you lose, it stings, it’s tough”, Stanford linebacker Kevin Anderson said.
Heading into the 2015 season, USC vs. OR was the predicted match up for the Pac-12 Championship.
Trailing 34-14 entering the fourth quarter, Houston raced 75 yards in six plays, punctuated by another Farrow touchdown run, then seemingly was in business after recovering a Doroland Dorceus fumble at the Memphis 20. If the outcome is determined by the kicking game, it’s a toss up: Oregon’s Aidan Schneider has made 16-of-17 field goals this season, while Stanford’s Conrad Ukropina is 11 of 12. Stanford would again have a chance. David Shaw has shown he can coach, but the loss to OR means this season now stands on a precipice. For those of you who said after the WSU game that we wouldn’t win a game until OSU, cheers to our four game winning streak. “Either the throw or the catch”.
OFFENSE: The offense is in the middle of the pack, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring at 36.4 points per game and sixth in total yards at 465.4 per game…. Helfrich will look to transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.to step up Saturday, and the Ducks will likely need a big performance from him to pull out a win on the road. “We’re playing a lot faster and I’m a lot more confident in the offense”.
Trailing 23-21 at the half, the Ducks took control in the third quarter. It was Freeman’s sixth consecutive game with more than 100 yards. Hogan fumbled the center snap and Tyson Coleman recovered on the Stanford 7.
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Freeman’s 19-yard touchdown run on Oregon’s first possession of the second half put the Ducks ahead 28-23, and Adams’ 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Taj Griffin increased the margin to 35-23 late in the third quarter.
