The Ducks took a 3-0 lead on a Rob Beard field goal and got the ball back after UW kicker Nick Folk missed a 52-yard field goal of his own. Darron Thomas coughed the ball up and gave it right back to the Huskies, who took advantage with a 52-yard field goal.
Later in the second, the Ducks took advantage of good field position, driving 59 yards for the score. LaMichael James plunged in from the one yard line. Oregon went for two, putting the Ducks up 11-3 and perhaps finally waking them up.
Oregon widened the lead with a nice punt return from Cliff Harris, giving the Ducks the short field again. Darron Thomas took care of the rest, racing 34 yards for the score and giving Oregon an 18-3 lead.
Washington appeared to score on the next possession, just before the half, but the touchdown was negated on an ineligible man down-field penalty. The Huskies settled for a field goal, their second of the day.
The Husky defense played out of its mind for the first quarter and a half, but the frenetic pace of the Oregon offense appears to be wearing them down. Oregon has held the ball just over 14 minutes in the first half, a rarity for the Ducks’ offense.
At the half, it’s Oregon 18, Washington 6.