Pac-12 football: Justin Herbert rallies No. 12 Oregon past No. 25 Washington; No. 13 Utah beats No. 17 ASU
Justin Herbert hit Jaylon Redd for a five-yard touchdown with 5:10 left, the last of his four scoring passes, and No. 12 Oregon rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat No. 25 Washington 35-31 on Saturday in Seattle.
What was expected to be a defensive showdown turned into an offensive shootout with Herbert and Washington quarterback Jacob Eason taking the spotlight. Eason was great. Herbert was better.
Down 28-14 after Puca Nacua caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Eason on the opening drive of the second half, Oregon’s touted defense finally showed up and gave Herbert a chance to rally the Ducks. Oregon pulled within 31-28 on the final play of the third quarter when a well-designed screen pass on fourth down found Mycah Pittman and the freshman raced untouched 36 yards for the score.
The Ducks’ defense forced consecutive three-and-outs, and Oregon marched its way to the go-ahead score. Between Travis Dye and Cyrus Habibi-Likio, the Ducks went 70 yards in three minutes, and Herbert found Redd in the flat for the final five yards and the lead.
Herbert finished 24 for 38 for 280 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Spencer Webb and 16 yards to Redd in the first half.
The victory gave Oregon (6-1, 4-0 Pac-12) complete control in the North Division. Four of the five other teams already have three conference losses, with Oregon State at 2-2 the closest to the Ducks.
Highlights of what happened Saturday in college football, leading with the state of the Pac-12 after Washington’s showdown with Oregon.
Washington (5-3, 2-3) reached the Oregon 38 with two minutes left, but Eason was sacked on second and six by Popo Aumavae and lost 12 yards. It was the first sack of the game by either team.
at No. 13 Utah 21, No. 17 Arizona State 3: Zack Moss broke Utah’s career rushing record and scored two touchdowns in the Utes’ victory over the Sun Devils on a rainy night in Salt Lake City.
The Utes (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) ended Arizona State’s modern-era record streak of 125 games with more than 10 points. The last time the Sun Devils were held under double-digits was a 28-0 loss to Southern California in 2008.
Moss was held in check most of the game as Arizona State (5-2, 2-2) keyed on the senior back. But Moss broke through the line and outraced the defense for a 32-yard touchdown run that broke the rushing mark with 5:24 left.
Moss ran for 99 yards in 25 carries to push his total to 3,264. Eddie Johnson set the previous record, running for 3,219 yards from 1984 to 1988.
Oregon State 21, California 17: B.J. Baylor scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 4:41 remaining, and the Beavers held on after blowing a 14-point lead to beat the Golden Bears in Berkeley.
Jake Luton threw a pair of touchdown passes, Artavis Pierce ran for 80 yards and Oregon State (3-4, 2-2 Pac-12) had a season-high nine sacks to win for the second time in three games.
The Beavers’ offense was shut down in the second half until driving 80 yards for the game-winning score. Oregon State converted three third downs on its way to the end zone, the third coming when Baylor bulled his way through the defense and stretched across the goal line to score.
Baylor was initially ruled down short of the end zone until a side official came in and signaled touchdown. The play was reviewed and confirmed.
James McCourt kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired as Illinois pulled off the biggest upset of the college football season, knocking off No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23.
Jaydon Grant sealed the win with an interception off third-string quarterback Spencer Brasch on Cal’s ensuing possession after Devon Modster was taken out for unknown reasons.
Oregon State has won consecutive road games for the first time since 2013.
The Golden Bears (4-3, 1-3) have lost three straight.
Washington State 41, Colorado 10: Anthony Gordon passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cougars rolled over the Buffaloes in Pullman, Wash., to snap a three-game losing streak.
Gordon threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Max Borghi and a 22-yarder to Dezmon Patmon in the first quarter as Washington State (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) jumped to a 14-0 lead, scored touchdowns on its first three drives and cruised to a needed victory. Gordon was 35-for-51 passing and connected with eight different receivers.
The Washington State defense was excellent after weeks of getting shredded. Colorado (3-4, 1-3) was limited to 320 total yards, and quarterback Steven Montez was intercepted twice.
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