×

Spartans defense can’t stop Ducks

EUGENE, Ore. – Marcus Mariota threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair to speedy redshirt freshman Devon Allen, and the No. 3 Oregon Ducks’ blur offense prevailed over No. 7 Michigan State’s stout defense 46-27 on Saturday night.

Mariota’s three touchdown passes in what was considered a premier nonconference matchup gave him 69 for his career, an Oregon record.

After falling behind 27-18 early in the third quarter, Oregon scored four unanswered touchdowns, including on a pair of runs by freshman Royce Freeman, who finished with 89 yards on 13 carries.

The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak for the defending Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Spartans, who went 13-1 last season. Connor Cook threw for 343 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Spartans had the second-ranked total defense in the nation last year, allowing opponents an average of just over 252 yards per game. But the high-flying Oregon offense – combined with temperatures approaching 100 degrees – appeared to wear on Michigan State as the game went on.

The two teams both went three-and-out on their opening series and it appeared that defenses would rule the day. The Spartans broached Oregon territory midway through the quarter, but on third-and-10 on the 38, Erick Dargan intercepted Cook and ran it back 36 yards.

The Ducks capped the drive when Thomas Tyner barreled over the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown, and Oregon added the conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Matt Wogan’s 28-yard field goal pushed the Ducks’ lead to 11-0. But Michigan State answered with an impressive drive topped by Jeremy Langford’s 16-yard scoring dash.

Mariota hit Allen with a 70-yard touchdown pass to give the Ducks an 18-7 lead with 10:12 to go in the half. Allen, the NCAA’s reigning 110-meter hurdles champion, shook off strong safety RJ Williamson before sprinting in for the score.

The scoring pushed Mariota past Darron Thomas (66) on Oregon’s all-time list. Mariota has thrown at least one touchdown in each of the 28 games he’s played at Oregon.

Elsewhere:

No. 19 Nebraska 31, McNeese St. 24: Ameer Abdullah’s jaw-dropping 58-yard touchdown after a short pass from Tommy Armstrong Jr. broke a tie with 20 seconds left and allowed No. 19 Nebraska to beat FCS McNeese State. McNeese State erased a 10-point deficit to tie Nebraska (2-0) at 24-all with 4:21 to play. The Huskers’ winning possession started with 1:14 to play, and they were facing third-and-6 when Abdullah made the play of his career.

Central Michigan 38, Purdue 17: Cooper Rush threw two touchdown passes and Thomas Rawls ran for two more scores, giving Central Michigan a surprising victory at Purdue. Purdue (1-1) failed to get its first 2-0 start since 2007 and still hasn’t opened a season with back-to-back wins over Football Bowl Subdivision opponents since 2005.

No. 18 Wisconsin 37, Western Illinois 3: Tanner McEvoy overcame a slow start to throw for three touchdowns and run for another, and No. 18 Wisconsin pulled away from second-tier Western Illinois to win its home opener. Melvin Gordon ran for just 38 yards on 17 carries with the Fighting Leathernecks (1-1) consistently stacking the box against one of the country’s best rushers.

Illinois 42, Western Kentucky 34: Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt threw for three touchdowns and Taylor Barton returned an interception for a late score to secure a comeback win over Western Kentucky. Lunt was 35 of 50 with one interception for the Illini (2-0). Barton picked off Hilltopper quarterback Brandon Doughty in the fourth quarter for a 77-yard touchdown that put Illinois up 35-27.

Rutgers 38, Howard 25: Gary Nova threw four touchdowns and halfback Paul James had his second-straight three-touchdown game to lead Rutgers to a victory over Howard. Nova connected with James on scoring passes of 69 and 31 yards and added tosses of 38 yards to Leonte Carroo and 19 to John Tsimis as the Scarlet Knights (2-0) scored 31 straight first-half points to overcome an early deficit.

Minnesota 35, Middle Tennessee 24: David Cobb had 29 carries for two touchdowns and a career-high 220 yards, the most for the program in nine years, and Minnesota outlasted Middle Tennessee.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 23, Northwestern 15: Drew Hare passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Northern Illinois to a win over in-state rival Northwestern. Trevor Siemian was 27 for 41 for 268 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Northwestern (0-2).

Maryland 24, South Florida 17: C.J. Brown threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Avery Thompson recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a fourth-quarter TD that helped Maryland beat South Florida.

Iowa 17, Ball State 13: Iowa’s Jake Duzey caught a go-ahead 12-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock with a minute left in a win over Ball State. Iowa, which trailed, 13-3, with under five minutes to play in the game, forced a fumble on Ball State’s final possession to end the game.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today