Second-ranked Oregon looked every bit the national-championship contender in an easy 59-10 win against Virginia on Saturday in front of 58,502 fans at Scott Stadium.
It was over early – Marcus Mariota broke a 71-yard run on a third-down play on the Ducks’ first possession that, with a two-point conversion, made it 8-0 Oregon 1:51 into the game. A blocked punt set up a DeAnthony Thomas 1-yard TD run that pushed the lead to 14-0, and it was 21-0 later in the first quarter after a David Watford pass was intercepted, setting up a 40-yard Thomas TD.
Virginia got on the board late in the first on a 45-yard TD run by Khalek Shepherd, and UVa. was able to stay in the game at the half, limiting Oregon to a single second-quarter score, a Bradlon Anderson 30-yard TD catch, while the ‘Hoos got a 37-yard Ian Frye field goal that made it 28-10 at the break.
It was all Oregon after that. An Alejandro Maldonado field goal, another Thomas scoring run and an 11-yard pass from Mariota to Keanon Lowe pushed the Ducks’ lead to 45-10 at the end of three.
Virginia drove the ball into the Oregon red zone early in the fourth quarter, but after having an apparent touchdown pass called back by penalty, Dior Mathis intercepted a Watford pass and returned it 97 yards to the Virginia 3, setting up a Thomas Tyner 3-yard TD run that made it 52-10 Oregon.
A 31-yard run by Tyner added salt to the wounds midway through the fourth, giving Oregon a 59-10 advantage.
Game Notes: Oregon outgained Virginia in total offense 557 yards-298 yards. The Ducks ran for 350 yards on 40 carries. … DeAnthony Thomas had 124 yards and three TDs on 11 carries … Marcus Mariota was 14-of-28 passing for 199 yards and two TDs and ran for 122 yards and a TD on just four carries from scrimmage. … David Watford was 29-of-41 passing for Virginia for 151 yards and three interceptions.
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