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The Oregon Ducks maintained their perfect record through the first two weeks of the college football season, but their recent performance against Boise State revealed several areas of concern. Despite a thrilling last-second 37-34 win, the Ducks are grappling with significant challenges as they head into the heart of their schedule.
A Narrow Escape
In a game that saw its fair share of drama, Oregon's victory was secured by a clutch 25-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington as time expired. The kick not only sent the Autzen Stadium crowd into a frenzy but also spared the Ducks from what could have been a damaging upset. However, the road to this win was far from smooth, as the Ducks faced several obstacles throughout the match.
Head coach Dan Lanning was candid about his mixed emotions following the game. "We sure like sweating around here," Lanning said. "I have a sense of relief because of the result, but there are certainly a lot of things to fix."
Offensive Struggles Persist
For the second consecutive week, Oregon's offense showed signs of disarray. The Ducks’ attack struggled to establish a rhythm, with quarterback Dillon Gabriel throwing two impressive touchdown passes — one for 59 yards and another for 34 yards. Despite these highlights, the offense appeared disjointed and failed to consistently leverage its talent.
Gabriel reflected on the team's performance, acknowledging the ongoing adjustments. "It's a team that's finding our identity together," he noted. "You see a bunch of guys being more and more connected as the weeks go on through practice, through games, and then you go through adversity like that and then you find a way to win."
Special Teams Shines
Oregon's special teams played a crucial role in securing the victory. In the second half, Tez Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, and Noah Whittington ran a kickoff 84 yards, though the play nearly ended in disaster when he fumbled the ball. Fortunately, running back Jayden Lima recovered the loose ball in the end zone, ensuring the Ducks avoided a potentially game-changing mistake.
Offensive Line and Penalties
The offensive line's performance was another area of concern. The unit committed nine penalties and allowed four sacks. Additionally, the Ducks had three fumbles, losing two. Despite these issues, Lanning remains committed to his strategy of rotating the offensive line but acknowledged the need to find a consistent group that can deliver winning results.
"I don't think it's anything preventing [the offense] from having success," Johnson said. "We're just shooting ourselves in the foot: offside, false start, illegal formation, illegal motion — those little things we cannot have."
Looking Ahead
Oregon’s win over Boise State follows a similar performance against Idaho, where the Ducks secured a 24-14 victory but dropped four spots to No. 7 in the AP Top 25. As the season progresses, the Ducks must address these issues if they hope to meet the high expectations set for them, including aspirations of making the College Football Playoff and contending for a national title.
"We won, nothing more than a W," Lanning said after the game. "Now I'm thinking about what we can go fix. We put ourselves in some tough situations and we were able to come out of it."
As the Ducks continue their season, their ability to refine their performance and address these shortcomings will be critical to their success. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Oregon can turn their close wins into dominant performances as they chase their championship dreams.
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