EUGENE — An uninspired performance, particularly in the trenches, against an FCS team is not what great teams allow to happen after a massive win.
Yet that’s exactly what No. 4 Oregon delivered during the first half of its 48-7 win over Stony Brook Saturday night at Autzen Stadium. It made what should’ve been, and what non-observers will believe was, a dominant performance into a competitive game for nearly three quarters and resulted in quarterback Anthony Brown Jr. leaving the game with an apparent injury after back-to-back sacks before halftime.
The Ducks (3-0) capitalized on a short field thanks to an interception by Verone McKinley III, his first of two on the day, and took an early 3-0 lead.
Brown connected with CJ Verdell for what was ruled a 9-yard pass that made it 10-0.
Stony Brook (1-2) managed to assemble an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to close the first quarter thanks to a huge fourth down conversion.
Brown scored on a 7-yard run to extend the lead to 17-7 early in the second. The teams traded punts, McKinley snagged his second interception and the Ducks’ offense stalled due to the sacks to go into halftime leading by just two scores on the 41-point underdogs.
Ty Thompson took over at quarterback in the second half and guided four scoring drives — three touchdowns and one field goal — as the Ducks piled up yards and wore down the Seawolves.
Top performances: CJ Verdell had 11 carries for 54 yards and four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Key contributors: Travis Dye had 15 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown. Brown Jr. completed 14 of 18 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score, all in the first half. Thompson was 6 for 9 passing for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Terrance Ferguson had four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. McKinley III recorded three tackles and two interceptions
Key play: Thompson’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson gave the Ducks a 24-7 lead with 7:45 to go in the third quarter.
It was over when: Bennett Williams intercepted Tyquell Fields late in the third quarter and, three plays later, Oregon extended its lead to 31-7 when Thompson tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton.
Next up: Oregon hosts Arizona next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
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