The Ducks Have Been Grounded (Week 6)

Boulder, Colorado - The matchup today between the ranked #4 Oregon Ducks and the Colorado Buffaloes could not of been more lopsided on paper.  The explosive Ducks have a dual threat offense that seemed unstoppable with Marcus Mariota commanding their spread option offense and De'Anthony Thomas running the ball with blinding speed.  It was a strenuous request for the Buffaloes defense to stop the run game of the Ducks, but if they could not rein in the run game, then the game was already over.

The Ducks won the coin flip and elected to kickoff to the Buffaloes.  The return was modest at best, but all eyes were on freshman quarterback Shane Dillon as he led the offense out onto the field.  The first drive of the game was a well balanced mix of passes and runs as the Buffaloes worked their way down the field, eventually scoring on a 3rd down and 8 with a short pass to the emerging receiver Tyler McCullough. The Ducks first drive had the same success as they passed the ball early in the drive which took the Buffaloes defense off-guard until they reached the redzone.  After a long run by De'Anthony Thomas, the hurry up offense was called again.  The read option worked to perfection as all the pressure went towards Thomas while Mariota forced his way into the endzone for the tying touchdown.  The first quarter came to an end with the score all knotted up 7 - 7.

The Buffaloes began the second quarter with a drive much the same as their first. Time after time Shane Dillon was faced with a must have 3rd down conversion and time after time he delivered.  The Buffs reached the redzone and it seemed as though they were going to have to settle for a field goal if they did not convert this last 3rd down into a touchdown from the 8 yard line.  The call was a play action that pulled Ducks senior middle linebacker Boseko Lokombo up only a step, but that was all the space the quarterback needed as he fired a laser in between the linebacker and cornerback to tight end Vincent Hobbs to score his second touchdown of the day as the Buffs were now out in front 14 - 7 with under 2 minutes left in the half.  The Ducks offense were playing against time as they ran the ball for a first down and then another 9 yard gain.  It looked as though they would reach field goal range until on 2nd and 1, Mariota was sacked by Nate Bonsu for a loss of 7.  The Buffs played a cover zone on 3rd down and stopped the conversion.  The Ducks punted the ball and the Buffs just ran out the clock,  happy to go into halftime with the lead.

The third quarter was a battle of attrition for the Buffaloes as they were giving ground on huge runs by the dual threats Mariota and Thomas as well a few runs by the young sophomore running back Byron Marshall.  It appeared as though the Ducks would walk into the endzone as they worked their way downfield.  They reached the redzone and continued exposing the slow speed of the Buffaloes defense until the Ducks were forced into a 4th and 2 at the 11 yard line nearing the end of the third quarter.  The Ducks coach elected to go for it as they were down a touchdown and were running the ball all the way up the field without trouble and they only needed to get to the 9 yard line.  The play that the coach called was a run to the left side of the field by their star player Thomas.  The ball was hiked and Thomas took off to the outside of the tackle as the Buffs sophomore free safety Marques Mosley shadowed him from across the line of scrimmage.  Thomas reached the 10 yard line but was then planted into the dirt by a huge hit from Mosley that stopped the 4th down conversion and gave the Buffaloes the ball at the end of the third quarter.

The Colorado Buffaloes just had to run the ball and control the clock as they soon realized how close they were to a colossal upset.  They ran the ball will almost no success, but when 3rd down arrived coach Dayne seemed to have the perfect play call time and time again.  The Buffs were 2 yards from the endzone as Christian Powell barreled his way through the Ducks defensive line for the touchdown that gave the Buffaloes a cushion as they were ahead now 21 - 7 with three and a half minutes left in the game.  Even with that last score, the Ducks were still a threat to make a comeback, but on the following drive the Buffs forced a punt and the game was all over.  The Buffaloes kneeled their way to a victory over the #4 Oregon Ducks pulling off an upset many thought impossible.  Freshman quarterback Shane Dillon finished his outstanding game going 13/14 on 3rd down as well as completing 17 of 24 passes for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After witnessing an immense win like that......we must take solace in the fact that in college football, anything is possible.  The undefeated Colorado Buffaloes face off next week against the Arizona State Sun Devils.  This is your numero uno reporter enjoying a few extra victory Coors and signing off, see you next week.

Week of the upset

yeah I wonder who the top 5 teams will be now

3 of the top 5 lost so I may slide to 5 or at the worse 6th I win out I'm in the natty.. .now we could get everyone to do the webpage