Top-ranked Oregon, already locked into the Big Ten championship game next weekend against Penn State, finished off a perfect regular season with Saturday’s 49-21 rout of rival Washington in Eugene, Ore.
The Ducks’ defense shut out the Huskies for almost the entire second half, giving up a late touchdown with 1:43 to play. They also matched a single-game record for sacks with 10.
Oregon’s offense overcame an early fumble and a couple of hiccups in execution to dominate.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns, and the Oregon ground game gained 236 yards. Jordan James had 99 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns, and Gabriel, Noah Whittington and Da’Jaun Riggs also scored rushing touchdowns for Oregon (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten).
Terrance Ferguson and Tez Johnson caught touchdown passes from Gabriel. Johnson, Oregon’s most dynamic receiver, returned to action after missing two full games with a shoulder injury.
Ducks coach Dan Lanning finally got his first win over the Huskies after three losses, including a pair of three-point defeats last season. The Ducks ended a three-game losing streak to their archrivals to the north.
Washington (6-6, 4-5) went with Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback over the more experienced Will Rogers, who was benched in the Huskies’ previous game. Williams spent much of the night running from Oregon defenders but ended up 17 for 20 for 201 yards and a touchdown pass.
Defensive lineman Jordan Burch, who also returned from injury, led the Ducks with 2 1/2 sacks, and linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei had two.
The Huskies entered the game with 1,008-yard rusher Jonah Coleman averaging 5.8 yards per carry, but Coleman was held to 3 rushing yards on 11 attempts. As a team, Washington ran for only 43 yards and gained 244 yards in total offense.
–Field Level Media
