The Civil War really could not have ended any other way. A back-and-forth game from the start, Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Pac 12) managed to come out on top with a late game-winning touchdown lifting the Ducks to a 36-35 victory against Oregon State (6-6, 4-5 Pac 12).
The two teams reached halftime with a 17-17 stalemate, and the second half was full of twists and turns. Oregon took a 24-20 lead in to the fourth quarter when Marcus Mariota completed a touchdown pass to Josh Huff from 28 yards out of the end zone. That set the stage for an incredible fourth-quarter effort by the Beavers. The rally started with a field goal to cut the lead to one and was followed just minutes later with Sean Mannion completing his second touchdown pass of the night, this one to Tyler Anderson for a 29-24 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Oregon responded midway through the fourth quarter when Mariota and Huff hooked up for another touchdown, this one inside the red zone on 4th and 11. Needing just a field goal to take a lead, Oregon State worked their way in to the end zone. Rather than needing to settle for a field goal, Victor Bolden rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown to cap a 74-yard drive on eight plays, giving Oregon State the 35-30 lead. Unfortunately for Oregon State, the defense was unable to hold on to the late lead. Oregon drove right down field on the Beavers and the Mariota-to-Huff combo struck for a third time in the game, giving the Ducks a late 36-35 lead after a failed two-point conversion.
This was a bitter loss for Oregon State of course. Mike Riley‘s program ended their regular season losing five straight games against some of the better teams from around the Pac 12. After a 6-1 start to the year marred only by a season opening loss to FCS Eastern Washington, Oregon State will go limping in to the postseason.
The win by Oregon could end up helping the Pac 12 get two teams in to the BCS bowls. Stanford and Arizona State will play next week for the Pac 12’s automatic BCS bowl spot in the Rose Bowl, but the loser will likely fall out of the mix. With Northern Illinois looking to grab one BCS spot with a win next week in the MAC Championship Game, Oregon could be on the outside looking in on the BCS fun this season.