With an electric crowd, it was only fitting that the most electric player on the field, LaMichael James, was named Most Valuable Player of the Pac-12 championship game in possibly his last display of incredible running back skills at Autzen Stadium.
The ninth-ranked University of Oregon Ducks (11-2) defeated the Pac-12 South champion UCLA Bruins (6-7) in a 49-31 shootout in Eugene, Ore. last Friday night in the first ever Pac-12 championship game since the addition of two new teams.
Many expected a high-scoring game, at least out of the Ducks’ offense with the explosive backfield of Heisman hopeful James and junior quarterback Darron Thomas, and they were right.
On UCLA’s first offensive possession of the game, quarterback Kevin Prince fumbled the football on the exchange with tailback Johnathan Franklin, not knowing if he was going to keep the ball himself or hand it off to Franklin. The Oregon defense recovered the ball on the UCLA 39-yard line.
Shortly after the change of possession, James, who finished the night with 221 rushing yards and three touchdowns, scooted through a hole on the left side opened up by tackle Darrion Weems and guard Carson York from Coeur d’Alene and sprinted untouched for a 30-yard touchdown with 13:13 remaining in the first quarter.
On the next Oregon possession, freshman De’Anthony Thomas caught the turnover bug and fumbled the ball. He did not return to the game after being shaken up on the play.
UCLA took over on offense in Oregon territory but failed to convert on a fourth and inches at the Ducks’ 23 yard line.
Bruins’ linebacker Patrick Larimore then intercepted a pass that bounced off of the intended receiver Kenjon Barner and returned it for a touchdown to tie the game at seven.
Darron Thomas responded with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to put Oregon back on top.
After a punt, the Ducks scored touchdowns on their next three possessions including touchdown passes to freshman tight end Colt Lyerla and sophomore wide receiver Daryle Hawkins, and a three yard touchdown run by James around the right edge.
Besides the interception return for a touchdown, the only other offensive highlights for the Bruins in the first half was a touchdown pass on a flea-flicker from Prince to senior receiver Nelson Rosario early in the second quarter and a 43-yard field goal from the leg of senior placekicker Tyler Gonzalez as time expired in the first half to make the score 35-17.
UCLA got on the board first in the second half with a one-yard dash into the end zone by Prince on an option play.
The fast tempo Oregon offense answered with a James rushing touchdown from five yards out with 9:57 remaining in the third quarter.
Darron Thomas, who ended the game with 20 of 36 passing for 219 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, then completed a touchdown pass to the senior tight end David Paulson to extend the Ducks lead to 49-24.
Near the end of the game, Rosario hauled in a one-handed touchdown reception from Prince to cut the deficit to 18 points.
Prince left the game for part of a series early in the fourth quarter due to injury after a sack. His temporary replacement, junior Richard Brehaut, threw an interception on the drive near the sidelines.
Once again, the fast tempo offense of Oregon proved to be too much for their opponent’s defense. LaMichael James ran wild again and although he took third in the Heisman voting last year, his odds this year of returning to the Big Apple are a little slimmer due to his dislocated elbow he suffered earlier in the season that forced him to sit out two games.
UCLA definitely deserves some credit in this game. Their passion and heart showed as the Bruins were huge underdogs and their tremendous effort to win for their head coach Rick Neuheisel, who was fired earlier this week but coached in this game, was very admirable.
With the win, the Ducks will play Wisconsin/Michigan State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif.
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