First Half Recap: Cougars Efficiently, 28-14, Dissecting Ducks

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State has rushed for three touchdowns in the first half as they lead Oregon 28-14 from Martin Stadium. Gerard Wicks and Royce Freeman each have two touchdowns in the contest.

Washington State seemed to continue their scoring barrage from their 2015 macth-up with Oregon that saw the Cougars exit Autzen Stadium victorious in double overtime.

The Ducks defense continues to ride the struggle bus, 7-0, allowing Luke Falk to connect with Gabe Marks from seven yards out for the first Cougar touchdown. Falk was 4-for-4 on WSU’s opening drive.

Oregon welcomed their All-American back to the fold, as Royce Freeman looked fresh, elusive and aggressive as he strolled in from 11 yards on the Ducks second drive, knotting the game up, 7-7, with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter.

In the first half, Freeman has already rushed for 49 yards on 13 carries, including his two scores. The Ducks are hoping their Heisman hopeful is the main ingredient to their previous two losses. Oregon is 2-0 with Freeman on the field and 0-2 when he is sidelined.

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WSU running back Gerard Wicks scored from the 4-yard-line following the Duck touchdown. On 4th and 3, the Cougars successfully converted to extend their drive in the red zone. With the score, WSU regained the lead in the second quarter, 14-7.

On the Ducks fourth drive of the game, Oregon force-fed Freeman who carried the ball on six of their nine plays. The drive was concluded with a Freeman push across the goal line from a yard, for his second game-tying score, 14-14, with 9:22 left in the half.

The Cougars wasted little time retaking the lead for the third time in the first half, 21-14. A 10-yard run by Jamal Morrow concluded the drive on their seventh play after amassing a total of 80 yards, with only 2:39 trickling off the clock.

Following an Oregon punt, Wicks scored his second touchdown of the half, placing the Cougars up 28-14 with :44 seconds remaining the first half. WSU drained 4:44 off the clock on their 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive to conclude the second quarter.

No longer is a loss something you can swallow so easily after two consecutive losses, including a Pac-12 heartbreak defeat last weekend. If the Ducks fall again to someone not ranked in the AP Top 25, it could spell the end of the road for any high hopes in 2016. This may be the most crucial half of the Ducks’ season coming up.

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