Oregon clubbed UCLA 49-31 in Autzen Stadium Friday night to earn their third straight conference championship and the Rose Bowl. Game MVP LaMichael James darted, scooted and powered his way for 219 yards on 25 carries and three TDs to pace the win.
It was James fourth 200-yard game of the season, giving him 1647 yards rushing on the year and 4,923 for his Duck career. He’s score 17 rushing touchdowns as a junior, giving him 56 total in his three years.
If tonight was his last game at Autzen, it was a fitting way to cap a fabulous career.
The Ducks scored first on a 4th down, 30 yard run by James and never trailed, opening up a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter on a 7-yard pass from Darron Thomas to Colt Lyerla and answering any time the Bruins got close.
In all, Thomas was 20-36 passing for 219 yards and 3 scores; he had one pass intercepted that went through the hands and caromed off Kenjon Barner’s chest in traffic, returned for the first UCLA touchdown. The offense rallied after an uneven start that included James’ run followed by the pick six and a De’Anthony Thomas fumble, errors that made for a nervous beginning, but the pace and execution quickly wore down the Bruin defense. Oregon gained 571 yards for the game, 352 on the ground.
The defense sacked Kevin Prince four times, forced four Bruin turnovers and a two turnovers on downs. They held UCLA to 3.7 yards per rush and pressured Prince consistently until a late drive in the 4th quarter. On hits by Dion Jordan and Michael Clay, it was surprising the UCLA quarterback got up.
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