EUGENE, Ore. “”mdash; If you’re watching the UCLA football team play No. 1 Oregon right now, you are probably exhausted. If you plan on coming back for the second half, go grab a Gatorade.
The Ducks offense carries quite a reputation, and in the first half here at Autzen Stadium, it has lived up to every ounce of that hype.
Oregon has scored on each of its drives to post a 32-3 halftime lead. The Ducks have 220 passing yards and 137 rushing yards. Meanwhile, UCLA has faded since the beginning.
Bruin redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince did not start, once again because of his nagging knee injury. Sophomore QB Richard Brehaut started in his place for the second time this season, but threw an interception on the team’s first drive.
Redshirt sophomore running back Johnathan Franklin leads his team with 59 rush yards and 17 receiving yards. The Bruins’ one deep drive stalled in the red zone and they had to settle for a Kai Forbath field goal.
For those of you wiping your brows after watching that first half, at least you have some company. The Bruin defense looked tired trying to catch up with the Ducks’ criss-crossing, quick-as-lightning offensive schemes.
The Oregon fans, most of whom are donning that bright Duck yellow as part of a coordinated “Yell-O,” are pulling their share, too. It’s hard to hear anything, even in the press box perched high above at the stadium’s peak.
Any chance of UCLA repeating the same upset heroics that they pulled in Austin against then-No. 7 Texas has pretty much disappeared into the brisk Northwest night. But, hey, at least you’re getting some exercise, right?