Tony Thomas
Writer
In the land of sunshine and palm trees, two teams met for the first time in one of the most iconic bowl games in college football, the Orange Bowl in Miami, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Texas Tech, with its championship-caliber defense, faced off against the high-octane offense of Oregon.
The first round bye in the current playoff format appeared to be the 12th man, as a 25-day layoff took its toll on Texas Tech, especially on offense.
With no game action since the Big 12 Championship Game, there was a rusty patina on the shiny offensive gem that was the Red Raiders’ offense during the regular season.
Oregon took advantage of an inept Texas Tech offense, one that had averaged 480 yards of total offense and 42 points per game. The Red Raiders were held to just 215 total yards and zero points, and Oregon’s Brandon Finney recorded three takeaways (two INTs and one fumble recovery) as Oregon (13-1) advanced to the national semifinals of the College Football Playoff after a 23-0 victory over Texas Tech.
The first quarter was as one-sided as a firing squad. Oregon’s offense was as advertised. The Ducks gained over 100 yards of offense, while holding the Red Raiders to -2 yards. Oregon ran 25 plays and held the ball for 12 of the first 15 minutes.
After failing to move the ball on offense, Texas Tech kicker Stone Harrington missed a 54-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game. The Red Raiders defense, the strength of this team all season, held the line time and time again when they needed it most.
After Oregon converted a first down on a fake punt, the Ducks drove the ball down to the goal line. On fourth down and goal, a Dante Moore pass was batted down to the turf, and the ball went over on downs.
On the ensuing drive, Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey coughed up the football on the turf, and Oregon’s Finney recovered for his second takeaway of the half. Oregon took advantage and turned the turnover into three points to increase their lead to 6-0 going into halftime.
The Texas Tech defense kept its team close in the first half, allowing just six points against one of the top offenses in college football.
Coming into the game, Oregon rushed for 100 yards or more in 12 of its 13 games. The Red Raiders’ defense fricasseed the Ducks’ running game, holding them to -5 yards on the ground in the first half.
But Moore shredded the Texas Tech secondary for 192 yards on 22 of 27 passing (81 percent), but no touchdowns.
Texas Tech’s offense continued to be anemic at the start of the second half as they were forced to punt on their first possession of the half.
But Oregon could not do anything offensively on their first possession of the second half as the Texas Tech defense stood firm once again and stopped Moore short of the line to gain on fourth down and 2 yards.
On the ensuing Red Raiders possession, Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei stripped the ball from Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton and returned it to the Texas Tech six-yard line. Ducks running back Jordan Davison ran it from there as Oregon boosted its lead to 13-0 in the third quarter.
On Texas Tech’s best drive of the day, in the fourth quarter, Morton threw his second interception (Finney again)of the game in the endzone to kill another scoring opportunity.
It was the only time the Red Raiders entered the red zone the entire game. Morton posted three of the team’s four turnovers on the day.
With seconds left in the game, the Ducks scored again late on a 1-yard run by Davison, his second TD of the game. The extra point was good, bringing the final score to 23-0.
Moore completed 79 percent of his passes for 234 yards.
The Texas Tech defense held the Ducks to 16 points under their season average and allowed just 64 yards on the ground on 47 carries. That is a 1.4-yard average.
Ben Roberts and Jacob Rodriguez combined for 27 tackles. But it was not enough. The lack of offense killed the Red Raiders today.
Oregon simply picked up where they left off after an explosive performance against James Madison, and the Ducks’ defense shut out the Red Raiders (12-2) and wrecked their national championship hopes. It will be a long and silent flight back to Lubbock.
Tony Thomas
Writer
Two talented defenses will battle for supremacy in the Orange Bowl
The No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-1) defeated No. 12 James Madison (12-2) in the first round of the College Football Playoff. However, if the team that was seen in the second half shows up in the Orange Bowl, they won’t beat Texas Tech
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