It was like a cheap reenactment of a Wayne’s World ending. All of Beaver nation erupted at once. With 26 seconds left in the 111th Civil War Matt Evensen’s kick was wide left. But instead of the game ending and going into overtime Wayne and Garth popped up and wanted to see the super-anxiety-give-you-a-heart-attack ending.
Do-did-dley-oot, do-did-dley-oot, do-did-dley-oot…
Like a flashback to 2003, there was a personal foul called on the play. No play. First down Ducks 15 yards closer, on the 21 yard-line.
But the ducks had their own Wayne World ending. On first down, with the clock to start on the snap of the ball, the Ducks decide to run one play. They try to gain some advantage. An advantage that was falling into their lap all game. An advantage that gave them two fumbles, a blocked punt and an interception. An advantage – that now – would put the field goal unit in the middle of the field.
The Ducks ran a “dive” play and ended up in the middle of the hash marks. The kicker was in great position to kick the game winner. But, luck and advantage can only go so far, eventually skill and intellect are in the equation.
Neither of those were the Duck high-points in the last minute of this game.
So, with no timeouts left and the clock ticking down, Oregon neglects to spike the ball, instead the offense chooses to sprint off the field and allow the special teams unit to come in and try a game winner.
Eight seconds, seven, six, snap, five, hold, four, kick up, three, two, kick going, one, kick falls inside the five yard line.
Whoops.
So on second down, with time running out at the end of the game, the Oregon Ducks illustrated why they are no longer in contention for the national title. It’s the same situation that made me realize that Oregon Duck Head Coach Mike Bellotti is losing it.
The Ducks trailed in every statistical category imaginable and found themselves in a position to win the game with seconds left on the clock. On second down with little time left, no time-outs, and the ball in the middle of the field most coaches would instruct their players to spike the ball, to stop the clock. It ensures your kicker has enough time to take the field, prepare for the kick, check the playing surface, etc.
No one reminded Bellotti. It was almost fitting, though.
Forget the fact that Oregon State had dominated the game. They were playing their final game without the starting quarterback, running back and wide receiver. It was a game where Alexis Serna missed two field goals and had another one blocked. Yet still, as John Brown from VH1’s White Rapper Show would say, the Ducks were beat mentally, physically, emotionally and infrastructurally.
It’s a testament to the team that Mike Riley has built. A team with character not flash. They don’t need to wow the nation with the spread offense, they just want to win. And they did down the stretch.
In overtime the Ducks demise continued, not by their own fault, though. The Beaver defense took the field and held the Ducks to only a field goal. It would be the last time the Ducks scored.
The Beavers answered with a field goal of their own. Then in the second overtime, took the field on offense and ran the same end-around play that had gartered them huge gains all season. This time, the biggest gain of ‘em all. James Rodgers burst to the outside, broke a tackle and waltzed into the endzone.
Now it was up to the Beaver defense.
The Ducks tried some “Lou and Trickery” to no avail. The Beaver defense stopped biting on those fancy plays 15 minutes ago. After a pass across the middle on third down, it left the Ducks only a yard short, 4-and-1. It was up to the Beavers to make one last defensive stand. One last stop.
The called play was a dive, run up the middle, which had worked nearly all day on the Beavers – for at least two yards. This time, no dice. The front four burst through the Oregon guards like they were refrigerator boxes and popcorn Styrofoam.
Jonathan Stewert was held to a one yard loss. Beaver victory. For the first time since 1996 the visiting team won. The Beavers seemed to keep their bowl hopes bright and dimmed the switch on the Ducks.
A fitting end, no need for change.
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