The Oregon Ducks cooled down from their hot first quarter in the second period but head into halfway with a sizeable lead over the Colorado Buffaloes. The Ducks lead 35-0 after scoring five touchdowns.
Oregon scored four of those touchdowns in the first quarter: two passing touchdowns by quarterback Bryan Bennett-who got his first career start with quarterback Darron Thomas out- and two rushing touchdowns by running back Kenjon Barner. Barner also converted a two-point conversion attempt on the Ducks opening score, and Oregon ended the first quarter with a 29-0 lead.
The defense accounted for a score in the second period. Both sides exchanged punts over the opening portion of the second quarter before Michael Clay intercepted Buffaleos quarterback Tyler Hansen for a 32-yard touchdown.
The Ducks offense tried to string together a scoring drive towards the end of the second quarter but couldn't convert on a 4th-and-1 at the Buffalo 40-yard line. Colorado gained possession but failed to convert on 4th-and-4 with under 0:30 seconds left on the Ducks 34-yard line to end the half scoreless.
Bennett has played very well with Thomas out, recording 120 yards and two touchdowns on 8-of-16 passing. Most of those stats- including his two touchdowns and over two-thirds of his passing yards- came in the game's opening quarter. Bennett also has 71 rushing yards on five carries. Meanwhile, Barner leads the Ducks on the ground with 105 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. David Paulson leads all Oregon receivers with 48 yards and one touchdown on two receptions.
Colorado will receive the kickoff to begin the second half.