Oregon’s 43-23 win over Washington State would seem impressive on paper. Then you remember that it’s Oregon. You know, the touchdown-a-minute offensive juggernaut?
But with quarterback Darron Thomas and backup running back Kenjon Barner going down with injuries, Chip Kelly’s team will take what they can get. Thomas suffered an apparent shoulder injury in the second quarter and never returned to the game.
Senior Nate Costa, whom Thomas topped for the starting gig in the preseason, finished the game 13-of-15 for 151 yards and a touchdown.
Barner’s injury was a little scarier. The sophomore running back took a gruesome hit on a kick return in the first quarter. Barner laid on the field for ten minutes while being examined by team medical staff before slowly making his way to the sideline. He was taken by ambulance to Pullman Regional Hospital and has been declared to be in stable condition.