Final
Mariota powers Oregon over California in high-scoring affair
Oct 25, 2014 - 7:31 AM Santa Clara, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Defense took a back seat as the Pac-12's top two offenses clashed in the first-ever college football game at Levi's Stadium on Friday night.Marcus Mariota threw for 326 yards and five touchdowns to lead No. 6 Oregon to a 59-41 victory over California.
Mariota completed 18 of his 30 passes and threw his first interception of the season. Royce Freeman rushed for 112 yards and two scores on 22 carries for the Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12), who have won three straight games after a 31-24 setback to Arizona.
"He had some big-time runs. He did a really good job of managing contact tonight in situations where he got the first down or had a manageable second down where he got either down or out of bounds," Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said of Mariota. "Marcus is such a stud and it's great that he has another year and a half left."
Byron Marshall had a game-high 133 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Dwayne Stanford and Pharaoh Brown each caught two scores in the win.
Jared Goff compiled 360 yards and two touchdowns on 32-of-52 efficiency, Daniel Lesco had 186 total yards with a score and Luke Rubenzer had two rushing touchdowns for the Golden Bears (4-4, 2-4), who have lost their last six games against Oregon.
"We just made too many mistakes in the ball game to beat a team as good as Oregon, but I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys," California head coach Sonny Dykes said.
Maurice Harris caught nine passes for 79 yards and a score, Stephen Anderson hauled in a TD pass and Vic Enwere ran in a score in defeat.
Cal made it a 31-28 game with 3:31 to play in the first half. Todd Barr ripped the ball out of Freeman's hands and Michael Lowe took the fumble to Oregon's 5-yard line. On 4th-and-goal, Lasco leaped over the middle from a yard out to get the Golden Bears within a field goal.
Marshall caught a 22-yard pass and ran 18 yards to Cal's 12, but Stefan McClure picked off Mariota in the end zone with 1:56 to go in the opening half.
After a quick three-and-out, Oregon got the ball back and needed just three plays to make it a 38-28 game. Devon Allen made a 27-yard grab, Freeman ran nine yards and Stanford hauled a 24-yard pass for a 10-point advantage heading into halftime.
The Ducks picked up right where they left off after Marshall caught a 54-yard score on the opening drive of the second half.
James Langford's 47-yard field goal attempt steered wide left on Cal's next trek. Oregon responded by marching 70 yards in 10 plays. Freeman rushed for 7 yards down to the Golden Bears' 2 on fourth down and ran it in from two yards out on the next play to make it a 52-28 game.
Lesco rushed 30 yards into Oregon territory and Harris caught a 5-yard score with 3:54 remaining in the third.
Tony Washington recovered Bryce Treggs' muffed punt at Cal's 21 and Mariota found Brown in the end zone on the next play to extend Oregon's lead to 59-35 with 8:58 remaining.
Rubenzer's 2-yard rushing touchdown capped the scoring with 4:21 to play.
California started the scoring on its opening drive. Goff hit a crossing Treggs across the middle for a 23-yard pickup and two plays later, Rubenzer raced into the end zone up the middle from 12 yards out.
Oregon, however, quickly returned the favor. Mariota's 25-yard pass to Marshall moved the Ducks into their opponents' territory. Mariota rolled out to his right and scrambled six yards to his left for a first down and threw a 22-yard dart to Stanford, evening the game just over two minutes later.
Enwere bounced off a few tacklers and fell into the end zone on a 19-yard dash to cap a 6-play, 75-yard drive for a 14-7 California lead.
Oregon went ahead with 24 straight points.
Allen returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards, Stanford hauled in an 18-yard pass on third down and Freeman willed his way in from four yards out to tie the game on Oregon's next possession.
Christian French sacked Goff, knocking the ball loose, and Alex Balducci recovered it to give Oregon a starting position at California's 38. Aidan Schneider kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Ducks a 17-14 edge early in the second quarter.
After Enwere was stuffed on 4th-and-1 at midfield, the Ducks needed just five plays to find the end zone. Marshall broke free for a 24-yard run to California's 8-yard line and Mariota hit Brown with a pass in the back of the end zone to make it a 24-14 game.
Charles Nelson eluded defenders down the right sideline, weaved across the middle and raced in for a 58-yard punt return with 8:52 left in the second.
On Cal's next drive, Goff connected with Chris Harper on a 27-yard pass deep into Oregon territory and Anderson's 11-yard touchdown catch two plays later got the Golden Bears within, 31-21.
Game Notes
Mariota passed Bill Musgrave for the most passing yards in Oregon history with 8,625 ... Mariota's first interception of the season broke up a string of 245 passes without one ... Mariota has thrown at least one TD pass in all 34 games of his career ... Levi's Stadium will host the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 5 ... Cal, which was held to 64 rushing yards or fewer in its previous three games, finished with 193 yards on the ground ... Oregon outgained California, 590-560.
- 2-yard run by Luke Rubenzer.
Oct 25 2:04 AM - OREGON: 59
CALIFORNIA: 41
End of Regulation
Oct 25 2:04 AM - Marcus Mariota pass to Pharaoh Brown for 21 yards.
Oregon(6) 58, California 35 4th - 8:58Oct 25 1:42 AM - OREGON: 52
CALIFORNIA: 35
End of 3rd
Oct 25 1:24 AM - Marcus Mariota pass to Byron Marshall for 54 yards.
Oregon(6) 44, California 28 3rd - 13:25Oct 25 12:34 AM - OREGON: 38
CALIFORNIA: 28
Halftime
Oct 25 12:09 AM - Marcus Mariota pass to Dwayne Stanford for 24 yards.
Oregon(6) 37, California 28 2nd - 0:41Oct 25 12:01 AM - Jared Goff pass to Stephen Anderson for 11 yards.
Oregon(6) 31, California 20 2nd - 5:15Oct 24 11:40 PM - Cole Leininger punted 38 yards from the California 20 to the Oregon 42. Charles Nelson returned for 58 yards.
Oregon(6) 30, California 14 2nd - 8:52Oct 24 11:31 PM - Marcus Mariota pass to Pharaoh Brown for 9 yards.
Oregon(6) 23, California 14 2nd - 10:23Oct 24 11:21 PM - OREGON: 14
CALIFORNIA: 14
End of 1st
Oct 24 11:03 PM - Marcus Mariota pass to Dwayne Stanford for 22 yards.
Oregon(6) 6, California 7 1st - 8:49Oct 24 10:30 PM - OREGON: 0
CALIFORNIA: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Oct 24 10:15 PM
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