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10/12 22:19 CDT Dillon Gabriel rallies No. 3 Oregon past No. 2 Ohio State, 32-31
Dillon Gabriel rallies No. 3 Oregon past No. 2 Ohio State, 32-31
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) --- Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes and ran for
another late score to help third-ranked Oregon hand No. 2 Ohio State its first
loss of the season, 32-31 on Saturday night.
Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon (6-0, 3-0) this season from Oklahoma for the
Ducks' first season in the Big Ten, completed 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards. He
also ran for 32 yards on four carries.
Jordan James ran for 115 yards and a score for the Ducks in front of a record
crowd of 61,128 for the first matchup between two teams ranked in the top five
at Autzen Stadium.
After the victory, the Oregon fans rushed the field and the Ducks' mascot
surfed over their shoulders.
Gabriel scored on 27-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter to give Oregon a
29-28 lead. But Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) responded with a clock-eating drive that
ended with Jayden Fielding's 40-yard field goal that made it 31-29 with six
minutes to go.
A pass-interference call got the Ducks to Ohio State's 9. But after three tries
to get into the end zone, Oregon settled for Atticus Sappington's 19-yard field
goal and a 32-21 lead with 1:47 left.
Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka with a 26-yard pass to pull the Buckeyes closer to
field goal range, but an offensive pass-interference call on freshman Jeremiah
Smith pushed Ohio State back. On third-and-20 on the Oregon 38, Howard took off
running but gained just 12 yards before time ran out.
Howard threw for 336 yards an two touchdowns for Ohio State . Smith had nine
catches for 100 yards and a score in what was the first big test for the
Buckeyes this season.
Howard scored on a 1-yard keeper on Ohio State's opening drive of the game. It
was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, most by a Buckeye in five
seasons.
Oregon was able to capitalize when Derrick Harmon forced Quinshon Judkins'
fumble and recovered the ball on the Ohio State 28. Jordan James rushed 25
yards on the first play from scrimmage, then ran the ball the final 3 yards
into the end zone --- but the Ducks flubbed the snap on the extra point attempt.
Ohio State went up 14-6 on Judkins' 1-yard run.
Evan Stewart had a 69-yard reception led to his 10-yard touchdown catch to
close the gap for Oregon but the 2-point conversion failed.
Oregon took advantage of another Ohio State turnover when Roger Saleapaga
recovered Caleb Downs' fumble. But the Ducks were hurt on the drive when senior
receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct
when he spit on an Ohio State player.
The drive ended with Sappington's 27-yard field goal that briefly gave the
Ducks a 15-14 lead.
Ohio State went back in front on Emeka Egbuka's 15-yard TD reception. Egbuka
was the Big Ten's co-Offensive Player of the Week after his three catches for
71 yards and three touchdowns last weekend against Iowa.
Leading Ducks receiver Tez Johnson gave Oregon a 22-21 edge with 1:17 before
halftime with a 48-yard touchdown catch from Gabriel.
Freshman Jeremiah Smith caught a 6-yard scoring pass to put Ohio State up 28-22
in the third quarter. The Buckeyes' leading receiver had a 38-yard reception on
the drive.
The Ducks squandered an opportunity late in the third quarter when they reached
the Ohio State 2 but turned the ball over on downs.
TAKEAWAYS
Ohio State: Chip Kelly, the Buckeyes' new offensive coordinator, was head coach
of the Ducks from 2009-12, leading the team to a spot in the 2011 national
championship game. Kelly went on to coach in the NFL and had a six-year stint
at UCLA before joining Ohio State. ... Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons left
the game in the first half with what appeared to be a lower leg injury.
Oregon: Defensive Jordan Burch, the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week, did
not play after an apparent injury during practice this week. Burch was tied for
the Big Ten lead and ranks eighth nationally with a career-best five sacks this
season. ... There were 61,128 fans at the game, a new Autzen Stadium record.
UP NEXT
Ohio State: Hosts Nebraska on Oct. 26.
Oregon: At Purdue on Friday night.
___
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