No. 9 Oregon Destroys Washington State, 53-7

The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-10), had 551 yards in total offense.

Josh Tschirgi and Jeremiah Johnson Celebrate after after a 42-yard TD run by Johnson. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - Dennis Dixon threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as No. 9 Oregon handed Washington State its fourth straight loss, 53-7 on Saturday.

Dixon also ran for a touchdown for the Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pacific-10), who had 551 yards in total offense.

Oregon's victory came at a cost. Wide receiver Cameron Colvin was lost with a broken ankle early in the game, and running back Jeremiah Johnson went down with a right knee injury after he had scored two touchdowns.

The Cougars (2-5, 0-4) were without receiver Brandon Gibson, who suited up but did not play.

Gibson was leading the Pac-10 with 6.5 catches and 94.5 yards per game but bruised his heel in Washington State's 23-20 loss to Arizona State last weekend.

The Ducks were coming off a bye week, after a 31-24 loss to California at Autzen Stadium back on Sept. 29.

The Cougars stumbled early with three turnovers in the first quarter.

Alex Brink was intercepted on the first drive and Oregon capitalized with Johnson's 42-yard touchdown run.

On the next series, Washington got to the Oregon 2, but Brink was sacked for a 17-yard loss and then was intercepted by Jerome Boyd on the next throw.

The Ducks were hurt on the ensuing drive, however, when Colvin was hit and later taken from the field on a cart. Team officials later reported that Colvin suffered a broken right ankle.

The Ducks took advantage of another Brink turnover late in the quarter. Oregon got the ball when Brink's fumble was recovered by Boyd, leading to Johnson's 18-yard scoring run.

Brink was sacked in the end zone by Nick Reed and Cole Linehan for a safety to put Oregon up 19-0.

Oregon suffered another blow when Johnson hurt his right knee and was carted off the field. The extent of his injury was not immediately known.

Dixon scored on a 1-yard keeper midway through the second quarter, then hit Jaison Williams with a 52-yard scoring pass, and capped the first half with a 12-yard TD to Derrick Jones to make it 40-0.

Oregon opened the second half with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dixon to true freshman Aaron Pflugrad.

Washington finally got into the endzone on Brink's 8-yard pass to Michael Bumpus that made it 47-7.

Daniel Padilla added field goals of 39 and 39 yards for the Ducks.

Brink completed 15 of 33 passes for 251 yards, but was sacked six times. He has 18 touchdown passes this season.

He remains three touchdowns shy of Jason Gesser's career record of 70 at the school.

Story by: The Associated Press

Courtesy: goducks.com

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