The Oregon Ducks put on an offensive show during the first quarter of Saturday's game against the Colorado Buffaloes that set the tone for the rest of the contest. In the game's opening quarter, the Ducks racked up 29 points en route to a 45-2 win.
Quarterback Bryan Bennett, who got his first career start due to an injured Darron Thomas, helped engineer Oregon's early-game offensive success. Bennett scrambled for a 43-yard gain during the game's opening drive to set up a Kenjon Barner four-yard rushing touchdown. Barner tacked on a successful two-point conversion following the score, giving the Ducks an 8-0 lead just 1:36 into the game.
Bennett and Barner continued to dissect the Colorado defense in the first quarter. Barner broke off an 83-yard touchdown run while Bennett found De'Anthony Thomas for a 14-yard score and David Nelson for a 31-yard touchdown in the period. Both players accounted for two scores each in the first quarter and gave the Ducks a 29-0 lead at the end of the period.
The Oregon defense registered a touchdown of its own in the second quarter. Michael Clay intercepted Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen and returned the football for a 32-yard touchdown, and Oregon entered halftime with a 35-0 advantage.
The Ducks tacked on 10 more points in the third quarter behind Bennett and freshman running back Tra Carson, who saw playing time in the second half after Oregon mounted a sizeable lead. Carson punched in a one-yard touchdown run and kicker Alejandro Maldonado connected on a 36-yard field goal. Meanwhile, Colorado got a safety after punting and downing return man Cliff Harris in the endzone. Harris, who caught the ball at Oregon's two-yard line, backpedaled and was brought down in the endzone to give Colorado its only points of the game.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Oregon ran down the clock by moving the ball with Carson on early downs and fellow freshman running back Ayele Forde on latter downs. After several punts by both teams, the game ended with a convincing 45-2 victory for the Ducks.
Bennett did much of his damage in the first quarter and ended the game with 156 passing yards on 11-of-20 passing, two passing touchdowns and 69 rushing yards. Barner posted 115 rushing yards and two scores on 10 carries while Carson added 77 rushing yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. David Paulson led an incredibly balanced Oregon receiving unit with 48 yards and one touchdown on two receptions.
The Ducks move to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the Pac-12 with the victory. The Ducks take on Washington State at home next week before two big road games against No. 22 Washington and No. 7 Stanford.