Oregon Mauls Missouri State 56-7
Don Smalley

 

In what was from the start little more than a tune-up game before their Pac-12 opener, the Oregon Ducks (2-1) had their way with FCS Missouri State (0-3) in a 56-7 win at Autzen Stadium.

 

LaMiichael James rushed for 204 yards, including a 90-yard run, and three touchdowns, while Darron Thomas threw for three more touchdowns as Oregon got their offense on track just in time for their trip to Arizona next week.

 

But the day didn't begin so good for the No. 13 Ducks.

 

Missouri State started the game off strong. opening the game up with a 9-play, 84-yard drive resulting in a Chris Douglas three-yard run to give the Bears an early 7-0 lead.

 

Oregon answered immediately with a 10-play, 56-yard drive. The Ducks converted a trio of third down plays on the drive and James capped the things off with a one-yard run into the end zone.

 

The Duck defense got their first stop and then De'Anthony Thomas showed how electric he can be, leaving several Bears grasping at air in retuning the punt 47 yards to the Bear 37-yard line. The Ducks took the lead for good when Darron Thomas hit Lavasier Tuinei at the goal line for a eight-yard touchdown.

 

The Bears put together another tenacious drive but the Oregon defense held on a fourth down to take possession on their own seven-yard line. The Bears could easily have kicked a field goal but recognizing they needed to roll sevens- not threes - they elected to go for it. Boseko Lokombo stuffed the ball carrier to give the Ducks the ball again.

 

Darron Thomas took quick advantage, showing off his arm with two long completions worth 86 yards to get to the Bear seven-yard line. Then he hit Colt Lyerla in the back of the end zone to complete a three-play, 93-yard drive, giving the Ducks a 21-7 lead with 12:11 left in the first half.

 

James woke up the sell-out crowd with his 90-yard run with a sweep to the left. The play came with a formation rarely shown by the Oregon offense; Thomas was under center. James took the hand-off then broke the play to the outside and just let his speed take over.

 

The 90-yard carry was also the longest of James' career. His previous long was 76 yards. It was also the second longest play from scrimmage in Autzen history and increased the Oregon lead to 28-7.

 

"It really starts up front," said James afterward. "The offensive line did a great job getting me an open field. Our receivers block really well downfield, credit to Justin Hoffman - he did a great job."

 

"I thought we ran the ball really well," said head coach Chip Kelly. "We did what we wanted to do coming into this ballgame. We did not turn the ball over. We have to clean up the penalty situation but all in all it was a good effort by our guys."

 

With Oregon's next possession, Thomas found Tuinei for a second time in the end zone for a 34-yard pass and the rout was officially on.

 

After the Ducks opened the second half with a 50-yard James touchdown, head coach Chip Kelly took out the first string offense.

 

But sitting the starters didn't stop the Ducks. Bryan Bennett hit Lyerla with a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-7 with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter. The drive was salvaged when Tra Carson rumbled for 16 yards on a 4th-and-2 situation to set up the Ducks' seventh touchdown on the day.

 

Oregon then showed what the future could be with a bunch of rushes from De'Anthony Thomas, Carson and the drive ended with a 22-yard score by Erik Dungy on a wide receiver screen to make it 56-7 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.

 

The scoreboard operator got to take the fourth quarter off, but Oregon was able to get playing time for all of the eligible roster. The Ducks finished with 681 total yards of offense (265 passing, 416 rushing).

 

Oregon now travels to Tucson to face Nick Foles and the Wildcats to begin the defense of the their back-to-back conference championships.

 

"We will build from this and then we've got to get ready because we've got Pac-12 conference play coming up this Saturday at Arizona," said Kelly.