Everything we know following Oregon’s 41-19 win over Arizona

Don Smalley
·3 min read
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A win is a win, and despite Oregon coming out on top 41-19 over Arizona, there will be plenty of teaching moments for Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal to show his team before going to Stanford next week.

For the most part, Arizona can say it defeated the Ducks in every way except where it counts … the scoreboard.

Oregon was dominated on both sides of the line and if it wasn’t for five interceptions by the Duck secondary, this could have been one of the biggest upsets in recent years.

But Oregon did create turnovers that held the Wildcats off the scoreboard enough to give them their 16th straight loss. The Ducks can definitely breathe a huge sigh of relief, but Oregon goes to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

Here are some instant reactions from the game:

Final Score: Oregon 41, Arizona 19

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Keys to the victory

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  • In what might have been one of the ugliest wins in Oregon history, the Ducks needed two interceptions inside the red zone in the first half to hold Arizona off the scoreboard. Mykael Wright’s pick in the end zone and then later Verone McKinley’s interception turned the game around. The Wildcats did manage a safety after McKinley’s play, those two points were a lot better than seven. Those possible 14 points turned into just a couple and as it turns out, that was the difference in the game.

  • Arizona was down just 27-19, but for some reason decided that was the time for some trickeration on a kickoff return, but the Wildcats were called for an illegal forward pass. Oregon’s defense held and set up the Ducks’ best offensive drive in the second half that ended with a touchdown to put the game out of reach for the visiting Wildcats.

  • Oregon’s secondary picked off Arizona quarterback Jordan McCloud five times.

It was over when ...

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It was over when quarterback Anthony Brown pump-faked a defender and found tight end Spencer Webb wide open down the left sideline for the 18-yard touchdown to make it 34-19 with 8:26 remaining in the game.

The score gave the Ducks much-needed breathing room after what was a game that was way too close for comfort if you’re on the Oregon sideline.

Six stats to care about

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  • Arizona dominated the time of possession as they held the ball for 37 minutes, 58 seconds to Oregon’s 22:02.

  • Arizona’s two turnovers in the red zone and five interceptions overall including Bennett Williams’ Pick-6 with 7:04 left in the game to make it 41-19 Ducks.

  • Wildcats were 7-of-15 on third downs (20 percent coming into this game)

  • Arizona managed 88 total offensive plays to Oregon’s 55.

  • Wildcats rushing for 202 yards (they averaged just 78 yards on the ground before tonight)

  • Noah Sewell with a career-high 14 tackles

Who's next?

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at Stanford

Oregon goes down to The Farm for its first road conference game against Stanford, which is coming off a 35-24 home loss to UCLA.

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