Oregon Ducks Lose NCAA Football Championship 42-20

Monday, January 12, 2015

Annie Ellison, GoLocalPDX Reporter

The first ever College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy will not be coming back to Oregon.

Kurt Helfrich’s Oregon Ducks could not hold off the gritty offense of Cardale Jones and the Ohio State Buckeyes, dropping 42-20.

The Buckeyes muscled their way through the Ducks’ defense, and kept Heisman-winner Marcus Mariota -- who was without two of his top receivers -- from finding a rhythm.

Bucks Sophomore Ezekiel Elliot piled on the yards, rushing for four touchdowns. Jones, in just his third start of the season, wore down the Ducks’ defense play after play.

Although the Ducks scored early, with a 75-yard rush to start the game, Urban Meyer's Buckeyes answered immediately, rallying to stretch the lead in the first half to as much as 21-7.

But the Ducks converted a field goal late in the second quarter to head into the half 21-10.

Oregon’s work continued from there, as Byron Marshall's 70-yard run narrowed the lead to 21-17. Luckily for Marshall, who tossed the ball dangerously early running into the endzone, a video review deemd the point good. A crucial turnover midway through the third quarter gave the Ducks possession yet again, and the opportunity to take the lead.

But, a would-be touchdown pass was knocked out of the endzone and kicker Aiden Schneider hit a 23-yeard field goal, narrowing the gap to a single point, at 21-20.

The Buckeyes clawed their way down the field, battling through the Ducks’ defense to gain several key first downs. A final nine-yard run for Elliot stretched the Ohio State lead to eight to finish the third quarter.

Mariota’s Ducks could not convert a possession into a point, and Elliot barreled across the goal line for a third time, putting Mariota back 35-20 with 10 to go.

Elliott came for the Ducks one more time, bringing the score to 42-20.