Mike Resch reporting from Eugene Oregon, where it never rains, it only pours touchdowns!
On October 6th the Oregon Ducks easily dispatched the Washington Huskies 52-21. They led 21-0 in the first quarter and never looked back. Here are the game’s Oregon highlights.
This Thursday night the 6-0 Ducks visit the 5-1 Arizona State Sun Devils. The Sun Devils are playing excellent football and are sure to be a challenge for the #3 Ducks.
The game matches the Pac-12’s number one scoring offense against its number one scoring defense. The Ducks average 52.3 points per game (2nd in the nation), while the ASU defense allows only 14.2 points (9th). On the other side of the ball, the quick Arizona State offense is averaging 40.5 points per game (17th), while the underrated Ducks defense is no slouch allowing only 20 points per game (32nd in the nation).
The game could be a shoot-out because both teams play a fast up-tempo style and are getting impressive play from their quarterbacks. Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly leads the Pac-12, and is 3rd nationally, in passing efficiency. He has completed 68 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. For Oregon the players to watch are RB Kenjon Barner and RB/WR De’Anthony Thomas. Kenjon Barner ranks second in the Pac-12 and 12th in the nation averaging 121 yards per game and has scored nine touchdowns. De’Anthony Thomas, who was labeled the fastest man in football on the 
cover of Sports Illustrated, averages 9.2 yards per carry and has scored nine touchdowns, six rushing and three receiving. The speed of the Oregon offense is well known, and feared. Even Alabama coach Nick Saban is worried. Last weekend Saban complained that fast paced offenses don’t allow the defensive players to get into position or substitute. Read here and here for comments.
For Arizona State this is the biggest game of the year. The nationally televised primetime Thursday night game is the Sun Devils chance to show the nation they are for real. ASUAthletics has prepared for the game by calling for a BLACKOUT of the Duck.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Ducks rampage, here it is:
And last but not least, here is last year’s Arizona State motivational video watched by the Oregon team prior to the game.
College Football
Oregon Ducks @ Arizona State Sun Devils 43:21
(22:7/21:0/0:0/0:14)
19. Oktober 2012 03:00 MEZ, Sun Devil Stadium Tempe/AZ
CBS Sports Preview:
