Nix, No. 8 Oregon turn up gadget plays, beat Colorado 49-10
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bo Nix and the Oregon offense found creative ways to score, including an offensive lineman catching a touchdown pass and a linebacker scoring from short, as the eighth-ranked Ducks routed Colorado 49-10 on Saturday.
With the wind howling — 39 mph gusts — the Ducks (8-1, 6-0 Pac-12, No. 8 CFP) breezed to their eighth straight win since a 49-3 loss to No. 1 Georgia in the season opener.
The Ducks dialed up one gadget play after another, with offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. catching a 4-yard TD pass to open the scoring and linebacker Noah Sewell scoring on a 1-yard plunge. Even Nix got into the trick-play act by catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from tailback Bucky Irving.
The Ducks are the first FBS team to have a receiving TD from an O-lineman, a receiving score from a QB and a rushing TD by a defensive player in the same game since at least 1996, according to research provided by Oregon.
Nix turned in another strong performance, completing 20 of 24 passes for 274 yards and two scores. He also had two rushing touchdowns.
With his TD reception, Nix joined the company of Marcus Mariota (2012 and ‘14) and Joey Harrington (’00) as Oregon quarterbacks who’ve been on the receiving end of scores since '96.
Irving finished with 120 yards rushing and, courtesy of his pass, posted an astounding pass efficiency rating of 581.2.
Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez tormented his former team with a pair of interceptions. Gonzalez earned Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention accolades last season for the Buffaloes before transferring.
About the only thing that didn't go well for Oregon was Nix's backward, hook-shot-looking pass on fourth down near the end zone. Even that worked out, though, as two plays later Gonzalez intercepted a J.T. Shrout pass. It set up a short Nix run to make it 35-10.
There was a scary moment for the Buffaloes (1-8, 1-5) in the fourth quarter when talented freshman receiver Jordyn Tyson went down with an undisclosed injury. He was helped off the field with his left leg trailing. Tyson had five catches for 137 yards, including an 81-yard score.
It was a gusty day at Folsom Field, with wrappers and leaves constantly blowing all over the field. On one occasion, the pom-poms from the cheerleaders blew onto the field and players tracked them down.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Another impressive performance. Oregon is off to an 8-1 start for the third time in four seasons.
THE TAKEAWAY
Oregon: The Ducks have scored 40 or more points in eight straight games for the first time since 2014.
Colorado: The Buffaloes dropped to 4-34 overall against AP Top 25 teams since they joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Interim coach Mike Sanford falls to 1-3 since taking over for Karl Dorrell.
UP NEXT
Oregon: Host Washington on Saturday.
Colorado: At Southern California on Friday.
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