OREGON HAS TWO DUCKS TO GIVE

Duck treason!  Rabid Trees, Son! — Daffy Ducks choke away a 17-point second-half lead at home, thanks to two late lost fumbles in 38-31 Overtime loss to Stanford

The #20 Oregon Ducks — Chip Kelly’s old team — had #7 Stanford on the ropes.  Oregon had a 24-7 lead in the 3rd quarter, AT HOME in Eugene’s raucous Autzen Stadium, when they apparently scored another Touchdown to make it 30-7.  But the Touchdown was reversed, correctly, when replays showed the Oregon ballcarrier kick the pylon, which is out of bounds, before the ball crossed the goalline.

No problem, right?  The ball was placed at the one-yard line, so the Ducks were still about to ice the game.  But a fumble on first down that lost 9 yards led to another fumble on third down, which was recovered by Stanford and returned for an 80-yard Touchdown.

Then with 51 seconds left and a 3-point lead, all Oregon had to do was run a few plays, but they fumbled again, and the Trees recovered.  Stanford kicked a Field Goal as time expired to force Overtime.  In the O.T., Stanford scored on a 23-yard TIPPED TD pass.  Oregon had 4 chances to tie from the 10-yard line, but there was an uncalled pass interference penalty, and then a fourth down Interception to end the remarkable collapse — or “comeback” if you are a Tree fan.  Was this Oregon’s tribute to their old Coach?  Playing pathetically as an homage to Chip?

I was rooting for the Ducks, to make sc’s weak loss to Stanford look even worse, but I guess it wasn’t to be.  However, with troy’s unconvincing win on Friday, they still should remain on the outside of the Top 20, looking in.  Too bad sc doesn’t play Oregon this season, because based on their mutual results against the Cardinal, Oregon would beat sc too.  Maybe they will meet in the Pac-12 Title Game, if Stanford and Washington stumble along the way.  Like Stanford, UW looked beatable tonight, barely surviving at home versus Arizona State.

Speaking of surviving, the UCLA Spirit Squad continues to thrive despite having very little to cheer for this year.  Here are 53 more shots from the Fresno State game.