• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Oregon rips TTU in advance of Pac-12 opener

Sep 16, 2012 - 2:07 AM Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Marcus Mariota threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns, as No. 4 Oregon trounced Tennessee Tech, 63-14, in the Ducks' final warmup before their Pac-12 opener.

Mariota completed 21-of-28 passes with an interception, while De'Anthony Thomas gained 135 yards from scrimmage and scored twice for the Ducks (3-0), who once again built a big lead and rested their regulars after halftime.

"Sometimes not playing as fast is our plan," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "I was proud of our game plan today and how we executed it. We will continue to change it up as we go."

Oregon gets its first true test next Saturday when nationally-ranked Arizona visits Autzen Stadium.

The overmatched Golden Eagles (2-1) were ranked seventh nationally in the FCS in total offense coming in, but netted just 177 yards to Oregon's 652.

"It's bittersweet because you know coming in that it is going to be a tough road," Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown said. "You don't ever like to take your team somewhere where you're just overmatched. But at the same time, I think we get a lot out of it as long as we didn't have too many injuries."

Tennessee Tech actually held a lead after recovering a fumble on an early punt return, as Tre Lamb hit Da'Rick Rogers for a 23-yard touchdown just 1:57 into the game.

But Lamb wound up with just 46 yards on 8-of-13 passing, and was mostly a bystander as Oregon scored the next 49 points.

Mariota went 3-for-4 for 62 yards on the Ducks' first march, which ended with Kenjon Barner running in a one-yard score.

The Golden Eagles reached midfield on their next drive before punting, and Thomas ran 59 yards for a TD midway through the opening frame.

On the next Oregon possession, Thomas took a pass 49 yards before getting stripped near the goal line. Oregon offensive lineman Jake Fisher fell on the ball in the end zone to make it 21-7.

Kiko Alonso's interception and 41-yard return helped set up Colt Lyerla's four-yard touchdown catch early in the second, and Thomas' 16-yard grab in the final seconds of the half opened up a 35-7 cushion.

Mariota only played the opening drive of the second half and hit Keanon Lowe for a 38-yard gain on the first play. On 3rd-and-goal from the three, Mariota and Lowe hooked up again for a touchdown.

An interception by Dior Mathis preceded Oregon backup quarterback Bryan Bennett's four-yard TD run just 4:25 into the third quarter.

Darian Stone took over for Lamb under center and threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Doug Page later in the third.

Bennett and Byron Marshall each ran for another TD to close out the rout.

Game Notes

Oregon has scored 30 or more points in 16 straight games ... Thomas had 62 yards on three carries and 73 yards on three receptions ... Barner gained 57 yards on 13 carries, while Marshall led Oregon with 125 rushing yards on 13 touches ... Oregon's longest scoring drive was two minutes, nine seconds ... This was Tennessee Tech's first meeting against a Pac-12 program ... Tennessee Tech went 1-for-17 on third down tries ... The Golden Eagles started the season 2-0 for the first time since 1989.