Pokes face uphill climb in clash with second-ranked Ducks

Sep 10, 2014 - 3:24 PM Eugene, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Fresh off their statement win against Michigan State, the second-ranked Oregon Ducks will be challenged by the Wyoming Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.

Things looked bleak for the Ducks at halftime against the Spartans. Entering the locker room after 30 minutes, they faced a 24-18 deficit. However, in the second half the tables turned as Oregon dominated en route to a 46-27 triumph against the then No. 7 Spartans. It was a resume'-building win for an Oregon program that doesn't really need more help proving it is an elite program.

"(It is a) huge win. That is an outstanding team in every phase," Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said of his team's triumph over Michigan State. "I thought we got out to a great start offensively, defensively and on special teams. Then we did the exact opposite in the second quarter, we kind of fell behind. Our guys didn't blink and made the correction."

Wyoming also enters this contest with a 2-0 record, but those results have been met with much less fanfare. The Cowboys took down Montana, 17-12, in week one, and followed that up with a nearly identical 17-13 final in the Mountain West Conference opener against Air Force.

There is no familiarity between these two programs, as this contest is the first-ever between them.

There has not been a whole lot to like about Wyoming's offense in the first two games, other than the game-winning drive it had against Air Force. With the Cowboys trailing 13-10 with 3:25 to play, Colby Kirkegaard led them 75 yards on nine plays, finishing the drive off with a three-yard touchdown pass to J.D. Krill.

"As soon as they called the play in the huddle, I knew I wanted the ball," Krill said of his game-winning catch. "We practiced the play this week and had it down, so all I knew was that my teammates had confidence in me and there was zero percent chance that I was going to let them down."

However, the Cowboys' overall offensive performance in the first two games has been a letdown, with the team producing only 634 combined yards.

Kirkegaard runs the offense from under center and he has been fairly efficient, but not overly productive. He has completed 62.1 percent of his pass attempts, but for only 374 yards and two scores. He has also been intercepted once.

Tanner Gentry and Dominic Rufran have gotten the bulk of the throws sent their way. Gentry has a team-high 11 receptions for 115 yards. Rufran is the most explosive playmaker with 144 yards on 10 receptions.

Wyoming relies on a pair of running backs to carry the rushing load. Shaun Wick is the top option, with D.J. May filling in as a solid complement. Wick has tallied 171 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. May broke off a 58-yard run against Montana, but he has only 50 yards on his 23 other carries.

The Cowboys have been able to win games despite a lack of potency from their offense because of the stellar play of their defense. They have let up only 630 yards total this season, while keeping teams to a 16-of-38 success rate on third down.

Mark Nzeocha (21 tackles, 1.0 sack) has been all over the field adding three pass breakups to his team-high in tackles. Devyn Harris also has 21 stops on the year, while Patrick Mertens (13 tackles) has a sack and a fumble recovery.

Oregon faced one of the toughest defenses in the country when playing Michigan State. Unfortunately for the Spartans the patented Ducks' offensive firepower won out. Oregon finished with 491 yards of total offense, which may have been a step backward by its lofty standards, but was still enough to win the game.

At the center of the offensive show was, and will continue to be, Marcus Mariota. The Heisman-hopeful quarterback recovered from a slow first half to finish with 318 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing. He also avoided throwing an interception and added in 42 yards rushing for good measure. His ability to make plays through the air and on the ground with equal success make him one of the most dangerous players in the country.

Michigan State's strength up front was in full display against Oregon's normally brutal running game. The Ducks finished with 173 yards rushing, but they averaged just 4.3 yards per carry. Royce Freeman was the best option, finishing with 89 yards and two scores on 13 carries. However, Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall will get plenty of work all season as well.

Devon Allen brought in a 70-yard touchdown reception against Michigan State and finished with 110 yards and two scores on three catches. Keanon Lowe and Marshall each had three receptions as well. Marshall has been even more important in the passing game with a team-high 11 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Ducks are also loaded with athleticism. That could not have been more evident than when Ifo Ekpre-Olomu made an incredible diving interception off a tipped pass in the fourth quarter against Michigan State. Oregon may have allowed 466 yards to the Spartans, but plays like that show just how lethal the defense can be.