Halftime: Oregon Ducks 41, South Dakota 13
The Oregon Ducks were off to a fast start as Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for four touchdowns in the first half of the game. The first touchdown of the year – Dwayne Stanford 1:36 into the game. Mariota then turned around for a two point conversion – good to Taylor Alie to give Oregon and early 8-0 lead. Seventy four yards and four plays for the first score on the season for Oregon. On the next drive South Dakota held their own as they marched down the field and put three on the board with a field goal making it 8-3 Ducks as the sunset on the day at Autzen Stadium. On the drive Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota broke the University of Oregon record for touchdowns with 79. Mariota has thrown a touchdown in all of his twenty seven games as an Oregon Duck.
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On the next drive the Oregon Ducks took control with a 41 yard pass and run by Byron Marshall into the end zone and a failed two point conversion giving Oregon a 14-3 lead on the South Dakota Coyotes. South Dakota again tried to move the ball but ended up punting giving Oregon the ball back with 5:23 left in the first quarter of play. On the next Oregon possession it was again precision, nine plays for ninety seven yards and Freshman Running Back Royce Freeman picked up his first score as an Oregon Duck. Oregon’s lead 21-3 on South Dakota.
South Dakota did not go quietly in the second quarter taking the irst few minutes of the quarter to methodically drive down the field on the Oregon defense. Quarterback Kevin Earl marched the team down to the 3 yard line off a nice twelve yard run. Several plays later they had to settle for a field goal making it 21-6 with 9:26 remaining before halftime. Royce Freeman made another appearance in the endzone on the following possession for Oregon making his second score of the game and giving Oregon a 28-6 lead. Before halftime Running Back Byron Marshall thought he had a score, but fumbled at the half yard line for a touchback to South Dakota. However Oregon recovered a South Dakota fumble on the next play and were in business again. Byron Marshall added his second touchdown of the night a few plays later extending the Oregon lead to 35-6.
Oregon scored again taking a 41-13 lead into halftime.