WATCH: Oregon throws second-quarter haymakers at UCLA to change game
Look up the term “aggressive” and you’re going to find a headshot of Dan Lanning.
Oregon completely changed the complexion of Saturday’s top-10 matchup against UCLA with a deep shot from Bo Nix to Troy Frankling, then a successfully-converted onside kick attempt, and then another deep shot back to Franklin. With the two teams trading field goals on their first possessions and then touchdowns on their second, Lanning had to know he needed to keep Oregon on the front foot.
The Ducks paid off a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Nix to Franklin. Nix uncorked a perfect ball to the Ducks’ standout freshman, who beat his man on a deep post and hauled the pass in without breaking stride.
Bo Nix with a casual 50-yarder right on the money
pic.twitter.com/EMxKh0QuYf— Derek Peterson (@dr_petey) October 22, 2022
The score gave the Ducks a 17-10 lead.
Time to see if UCLA could once again answer, right? Lanning didn’t give them a chance, rolling the dice on an onside kick attempt that was executed to perfection by kicker Andrew Boyle.
✅ @oregonfootball completes the onside kick! 👏 pic.twitter.com/t3GRGFOsgL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2022
Two plays later, Nix went back to Franklin on the left sideline. The 6-foot-3 playmaker went up and over a UCLA defender — while being interfered with — to snag a 21-yard pass.
What catch this was by Troy Franklin 🔥🔥🔥@oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/3t4lREQEln
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 22, 2022
The Ducks then ripped off plays of 5, 8, 11, and 9 yards to move down near the goal line. Jordan James fell into the endzone to give Oregon a 24-10 lead.
Lanning stole a possession, and the Ducks’ playmakers made sure it didn’t go to waste. That’s undoubtedly a game-changing sequence.
Oregon and UCLA are battling on FOX.