The Oregon Ducks put themselves in an even better position for a playoff spot with a 51-27 victory over the Utah Utes and improved to 9-1.
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No. 4 Oregon appeared to be in danger of getting bitten by the upset bug against No. 17 Utah. The Ducks held a 30-27 lead over the Utes in the fourth quarter, but they scored 21 unanswered points to pull away.
The Utes may have had an even better chance of upsetting the Ducks if it wasn’t for a major blunder by wide receiver Kaelin Clay, who dropped the ball at the one-yard line when he was about to score a touchdown.
Oregon recovered the ball and took it back all the way for a touchdown. Here is a video from Vine of the play.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota kept a hold on the lead in the Heisman Trophy race by throwing for 239 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-29 passing. Mariota also ran for a season-high 114 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Running back Royce Freeman rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and he tied the school record held by LaMichael James for rushing touchdowns by a freshman with 14.
For the Utes, quarterback Travis Wilson passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions on 18-of-28 passing. Running back Devontae Booker rushed for 65 yards on 18 carries and added eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Despite his poor decision to drop the ball before scoring, Clay led his team in receiving with 152 yards on five receptions.
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