Make no bones about it, some serious chickens came home to roost for the 2020 Oregon Ducks on a foggy Black Friday night in Corvallis.
A sieve-like defense and some critical errors from Tyler Shough on offense served as the prevailing reasons for why the Ducks were handed only their second loss to Oregon State in their last 13 meetings, falling to the Beavers 41-38 in what ultimately turned out to be one of the wildest matchups between the two in-state rivals in recent memory.
Of course, sloppy Pac-12 officiating was also on full display in this hotly-contested back-and-forth affair, though it would be a stretch for anyone to say that it was a significant reason for the outcome of the game. In the end, it was a laundry list of issues which have surfaced as recurring themes over the first month of the season that ultimately handed the Ducks the disastrous result they had been flirting with.
Below, WFOD breaks down the biggest takeaways from a game that shakes up the Pac-12 race and marks the first time since 2016 that Oregon has stubbed their toe against Oregon State.
1. Jermar Jefferson savages a porous Duck defense
Two things were known quantities coming into Friday’s game between the Ducks and Beavers: 1) Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson is the best running back in the Pac-12, and one of the best in the country, and 2) the Oregon defense has increasingly revealed itself to be a tire fire as the season has wore on.
After narrowly avoiding defeat last week vs. UCLA in Eugene, the Ducks entered the day looking to find a way to remedy what has been a disturbingly porous run defense this season. Against the Bruins, Oregon surrendered 267 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, which included a career day from UCLA senior running back Demetric Felton (34 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns). A week later, it only got worse for the Oregon defense, as Oregon State steamrolled the Ducks to the tune of 269 rushing yards inside Reser Stadium.
Jefferson was the bell cow for the Beavers rushing attack, gashing the Ducks for a series-record 226 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, including an 82-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that ultimately stood as a precursor for the defensive ineptitude to come. In fact, the performance by Jefferson was the most yards surrendered by an Oregon defense to an opposing running back since the 2015 CFP National Championship Game, which saw Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott run for 246 yards and four touchdowns en route to a Buckeyes victory. Even more disturbing for Oregon players, coaches, and fans is the fact that there is no real excuse for the degenerative play that has occurred on that side of the ball this season.
82 yards, and just like that we are all tied up!
— Oregon State Football News (@BeaverFBNews) November 28, 2020
Watch live: https://t.co/CoJyCVACva#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/k3AYdKwCiA
To use COVID-19 and the wackiness of 2020 as a crutch is a cop out, particularly when every opponent you play is dealing with the same adversity. The Ducks have more talent defensively than anyone in the Pac-12, they have the same coordinator and more or less the same coaches in place from a banner 2019 season, and they’ve remained relatively healthy through four weeks of play. Yet, horrendous tackling, miscommunication, and a seeming lack of energy and enthusiasm have continued as hallmarks for this group. With three weeks remaining on the schedule, it’s essentially now or never for this unit.
2. Inconsistent play from Shough and the Oregon offense keep Beavers in it
The loss to Oregon State falls primarily on the shoulders of the Oregon defense, but even Ducks quarterback Tyler Shough would admit that his performance Friday night was far from his most complete outing. Though Shough was effective in helping move the Oregon offense up and down the field, particularly in the first half, it was a pair of turnovers from Shough that kept the door open for Oregon State to mount their comeback.
Fortunately for Oregon at the time, an interception by Oregon State’s Jaydon Grant in the first half led to a rare three-and-out for the Beavers on their ensuing possession. However, Shough’s second interception of the evening early in the fourth quarter gave Oregon State prime field position with the ball on the Oregon 33-yard line, leading to a two-yard touchdown plunge from Jefferson (plus a converted two-point conversion attempt from Beavers quarterback Tristan Gebbia) two plays later which gave the Beavers a 34-31 lead.
Both picks thrown by Shough came as a result of decisions he’d likely love to have back, though they were the types of plays that have left Duck fans mildly frustrated with the decision-making at times from the redshirt sophomore this season. It’s clear Shough has the tools to flourish in first year offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead’s offense, but his youth and inexperience is something that both he and the offense will have to contend with as his maturation continues.
Oregon State’s Nahshon Wright picks it off to set up the go-ahead TD vs. Oregon.
— ESPN (@espn) November 28, 2020
Came a long way from being on ‘Last Chance U’ at Laney College 👏 pic.twitter.com/o1HOjDxG4v
3. Ducks once again fail to win the turnover battle
For the third time in four games this season, the Ducks not only lost the turnover battle, but did so in decisive fashion after once again failing to come with a single takeaway against Oregon State on Friday. Against the Beavers, the Ducks were credited with three giveaways, though the fumble recovered by Oregon State following a last ditch effort from Oregon on the final play of the game was more academic than it was impactful.
Last week’s four-takeaway effort against UCLA seemed to perhaps indicate a changing tide for an Oregon defense that was among the nation’s best in that category a season ago, but it simply wasn’t to be against an Oregon State team that entered Friday’s game ranked eighth in the conference in giveaways (4). There’s no arguing that the Oregon defense has been a Swiss cheese unit, but their inability to force a maligned Tristan Gebbia into mistakes (Gebbia finished 23-of-37 for 263 yards and one touchdown) really underscores you everything you need to know about what’s wrong with the Ducks defensively this season.
4. Henry Katleman makes the most of his opportunity at kicker
No one in Eugene is ready to throw a parade for anyone following Oregon’s stinging defeat, but there was somewhat of a silver lining in the kicking game, as redshirt sophomore walk-on Henry Katleman performed admirably in relief of sophomore kicker Camden Lewis, who surrendered placekicking duties on extra points and field goals to Katleman on Friday.
In his first ever appearance as a Duck, Katleman demonstrated poise converting a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, plus all five of his extra point attempts on the evening. Despite the loss, it was a welcomed sight for Duck fans and those within the program, as Lewis’ 1-for-4 start from field goal range this season belabored the struggles he’s experienced since he was named the Ducks’ starting kicker at the beginning of last year. It’s reasonable to think that competition between Katleman, Lewis, and the other kickers on the roster will continue throughout the season, but it was a solid debut nonetheless for a player who Oregon hopes can bring a level of consistency to the field each and every week.
5. The Pac-12 race is now wide open
With Oregon’s loss Friday, the Ducks’ already slim College Football Playoff hopes are all but officially dashed while the conference race is officially up for grabs. Specifically in the Pac-12 North, where Washington (2-0) currently resides as the division leader heading into Saturday’s game vs. Utah in Seattle. The Ducks still have an opportunity to take home the division title, but will need to win out should the Huskies knock off the Utes and score a victory over Stanford who resides on the schedule next week.
Oregon finishes the regular season with a trip to Berkeley next weekend to take on winless Cal, before coming home to face Washington in a game that could determine the Pac-12 North champion. Friday’s loss also hurts Oregon’s chances of hosting the Pac-12 Championship game should they win out, as USC and Colorado are currently undefeated with two conference games remaining. Adding even more intrigue to the situation is the fact that the game between USC and Colorado scheduled for this weekend was canceled due to COVID-19, meaning the Trojans will hope to finish off the season with wins at home vs. Washington State and on the road at UCLA. Meanwhile, Colorado will face San Diego State this weekend, before returning to conference play on the road at Arizona next week before finishing the season in Boulder vs. Utah.
Top Photo: Oregon State QB Tristan Gebbia (Oregon State Football/Twitter)