For the first time since the Pac-12 was formed, all four northwest teams came into the weekend interstate games with a winning record. The Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies had Pac-12 North title hopes in mind, while the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars fought to improve their bowl game prospects. Only two teams could walk away victorious, and it was the teams from south of the Columbia.
#2 Oregon 45 #16 Washington 24
Analysis: The Ducks came into Seattle with their offense rolling at full steam. The Huskies came in after a heartbreaking loss to Stanford. While the Huskies gave the Ducks their biggest challenge of the season, Marcus Mariota and company would not be denied. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the first, but Oregon swung momentum with scores on back-to-back drives in the second to take a 21-7 lead at the half. The first came off a short field because of a Bishop Sankey fumble, the second from a 15-yard scamper from Byron Marshall for his second score of the first half. Marshall would finish with 106 yards on 19 carries.
Sankey avenged himself to start the second half with a 60-yard touchdown run to close the gap. Oregon traded big play for big play with Mariota hitting Josh Huff for a 65-yard strike on the following drive. After the teams traded field goals, Sankey rumbled into the endzone from 25 yards out to keep the Huskies within seven, 31-24. The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the Ducks, with Mariota throwing for a score and running for another to seal the game.
Players:
Marcus Mariota: A+
Mariota had a virtually perfect day offensively for the Ducks, accounting for four Oregon touchdowns. He finished 24 of 31 for 366 yards through the air, and ran for 88 more yards on the ground. The performance vaulted him into talk among NFL scouts that he, not Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville, could be the first quarterback taken in the 2014 draft if he declares eligible.
Bishop Sankey: B
On a day in which Keith Price struggled to get the aerial attack going, Sankey carried the load for the Huskies. While his 167 yards on 28 carries were impressive, his fumble in the first half gave Oregon great field position, which led to an Oregon score.
Oregon State 52 Washington State 24
Analysis: The Cougars have shown notable improvement in the second year under coach Mike Leach, but were unable to hold a lead to Sean Mannion and the Beavers offense. After the teams spent the first quarter exchanging field goals, Connor Halliday drove the Cougars down the field in the second, with Marcus Mason running it in from 3 yards out to give Washington State the lead. Mannion responded with a balanced aerial attack, hitting Connor Hamlett from 7 yards out to tie the game. On their next drive, Mannion's pass for Brandin Cooks in the endzone was picked off by Anthony Carpenter, but Teondray Caldwell gave it right back with a fumble on the ensuing Cougars drive. Storm Woods would score to give the Beavers the lead at halftime.
The Cougars roared out the gate in the second half, with Halliday leading back-to-back scoring drive to give Washington State a 24-17 lead. It all went downhill for Halliday from there. Mannion and Oregon State tied the game on the next drive, and a fumbled punt was recovered by Oregon State, resulting in an easy touchdown run for Brandin Cooks. The next offensive play, Halliday was intercepted by Rashaad Reynolds, and the Beavers capitalized for a 38-24 advantage. Three offensive plays later, Reynolds picked off Halliday again, and the rout was on.
Players:
Sean Mannion: A-
Other than an early interception, Mannion was on target all game long, throwing for almost 500 yards and four touchdowns. Behind his arm, the Beavers have ripped off five straight wins after their upset loss to Eastern Washington.
Connor Halliday: C-
Halliday's day was a tale of two players. Good Connor ran the Cougars attack with efficiency for three quarters, giving Washington State a 24-17 lead and throwing for 256 yards. Bad Connor threw for just two more yards, and spent the fourth quarter completing more passes to the Beavers (3) than he did to his own players (1) before Austin Apodaca replaced him.
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