Ducks overcome sluggish offensive performance, grind out 21-7 win over Wisconsin

 

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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — On a day that was set to challenge Don Essig’s pregame ritual, the rain and wind that swept through the Willamette Valley muted the usual Autzen Stadium roar as Oregon chased another College Football Playoff berth. A year removed from barely escaping Madison, the Ducks entered Saturday as heavy favorites against a reeling Wisconsin team that had been shut out in back-to-back games and was fighting to save Luke Fickell’s job.

What unfolded was a grind. Oregon sputtered for much of the first half before freshman running back Jordon Davison and backup quarterback Brock Thomas steadied the Ducks in a methodical 21–7 win that was more survival than statement — and one that helped Oregon rebound after its home loss to Indiana two weeks earlier.

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Slow Start, Gritty Response

Oregon’s opening gamble — an onside kick that was successfully recovered — fizzled when the Ducks went three-and-out, the first sign of a disjointed opening script. Wisconsin’s front crowded the line of scrimmage, daring Oregon to throw, and the Ducks’ offensive line looked sluggish, surrendering penetration and missing blitz pickups.

Through most of the first quarter, Oregon’s offense had managed only three total yards, and its run game, which produced 300 yards a week ago, sat at minus-14 yards. Quarterback Dante Moore faced steady pressure and little rhythm, though he briefly flashed poise by stepping up in the pocket to find Jeremiah McClellan for a 20-yard third-down conversion that kept Oregon from being blanked early.

Still, the Ducks looked unprepared and out of sync. Wisconsin dominated the trenches on both sides, holding Oregon’s offense to 21 total yards midway through the second quarter. Only when the Ducks were pinned at their own 1-yard line did something finally shift.

Freshman tailback Jordon Davison churned out tough yards between the tackles, McClellan and Jamari Johnson added timely catches, and Oregon methodically drove 99 yards in 16 plays, consuming 8:24. Davison capped it with a 3-yard touchdown run that gave Oregon a 7–0 lead with 1:07 left in the half — a drive that steadied both the offense and the Autzen crowd.

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Thomas Takes Over

Oregon deferred the opening kickoff and started the second half with possession — and immediate momentum. Noah Whittington ripped off back-to-back runs totaling 45 yards, setting up shop at the Wisconsin 30. But the Ducks were dealt another scare when Moore exited the game with a nose injury following a keeper.

Enter Brock Thomas, the redshirt sophomore who had earned backup reps during the week. On just his second play, he rifled a 26-yard completion to Dakorien Moore, and though a personal foul backed Oregon up, Davison handled the rest. His 20-yard touchdown run — featuring a sharp cutback and broken tackles at the goal line — stretched the lead to 14–0 with 12:14 left in the third quarter.

Thomas later showed command on a key fourth-quarter drive, engineering a five-play, 54-yard march capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to offensive tackle Gernorris Wilson, who was lined up as a tight end. The play pushed Oregon’s advantage to 21–0 with 14:17 left.

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Badgers Break the Streak

Wisconsin’s offense had gone 14 quarters without a touchdown, and that drought finally ended midway through the fourth. Quarterback Hunter Simmons, who had completed just one pass through three quarters, connected on a desperation 42-yard heave to Eugene Hilton Jr. down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Simmons found Lance Mason for a short touchdown, trimming the margin to 21–7 with 7:57 remaining.

Any chance of a comeback ended on the next possession, when Simmons’ pass was intercepted inside the redzone. Oregon ran out the clock with three straight kneel-downs inside the Wisconsin 15-yard line to seal a needed rebound win.

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Keys to the Game

1. Defensive Resilience:
Despite yielding 110 rushing yards, Oregon limited Wisconsin to 3.9 yards per play and just 11 first downs. Linebacker Bryce Boettcher and safety Dillon Thieneman led a unit that bent but rarely broke, forcing four punts and a fourth-quarter interception that clinched the game.

2. Youth at the Forefront:
Davison carried the offense, posting 102 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Thomas, in relief, went 4-for-4 passing for 46 yards and a score, showing poise in the red zone. Their composure salvaged an afternoon when Oregon’s offensive line was otherwise inconsistent.

3. Field Position and Possession:
Oregon’s special teams and ground game controlled tempo. The Ducks held the ball for 34 minutes, 26 seconds, wore down Wisconsin’s front, and flipped field position with James Ferguson-Reynolds’ punts.

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Turning Point

Down 7–0 late in the first half, Wisconsin had pinned Oregon deep. Instead of folding, the Ducks pieced together that long 99-yard scoring drive — their most balanced sequence of the day — to seize control. The sustained march restored confidence and gave Oregon breathing room before halftime.

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Inside the Numbers

• Total Yards: Oregon 335, Wisconsin 196

• Rushing: Oregon 203 yards (4.5 avg); Wisconsin 110 (3.8 avg)

• Passing: Oregon 132 yards; Wisconsin 86

• Third Downs: Oregon 8-of-15; Wisconsin 3-of-11

• Penalties: Oregon 9-for-75; Wisconsin 8-for-67

• Top Tacklers: Dillon Thieneman (7), Bryce Boettcher (6)

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Aftermath

Oregon (7–1, 4–1 Big Ten) remains in the playoff hunt but still shows inconsistencies up front that could loom large against stronger defenses. The Ducks will monitor Dante Moore’s status heading into next week, while Thomas’ calm performance gives coach Dan Lanning added confidence in his depth.

For Wisconsin (2–6, 0–5), a once-proud program mired in offensive struggles, Saturday’s late touchdown was small consolation. The Badgers have now lost six straight, including three by multiple scores.

Oregon’s path forward may not be as smooth as forecasted, but in a rain-slicked Autzen, the Ducks proved they could win ugly — and sometimes, that’s exactly what playoff teams need to do.

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