SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 7, 2013
No. 3 Oregon 59, Virginia 10: De'Anthony Thomas rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns as the Ducks extended the nation's longest road win streak to 16 games.
Marcus Mariota finished 14-of-28 for 199 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 122 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown to start the scoring for Oregon (2-0). Freshman running back Thomas Tyner added 51 yards and two touchdowns on four carries in his Ducks debut.
Kevin Parks led Virginia (1-1) with 60 rushing yards and Khalek Shepherd added a 45-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Cavaliers' David Watford went 29-of-41 for 161 yards and was intercepted three times.
The Ducks also generated offense from their defense and special teams, specifically a blocked punt and four turnovers. Josh Huff blocked a punt and Terrance Mitchell intercepted Watford on consecutive drives in the first quarter, both leading to touchdown runs by Thomas and a 21-0 lead.
Thomas also scored after Rodney Hardrick's interception in the third quarter, and Alex Balducci's fumble recovery on the next Virginia drive set up Keanon Lowe's 11-yard touchdown catch for a 45-10 lead. Dior Mathis' 97-yard interception return early in the fourth set up Tyner's 3-yard TD on his first career carry.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Mariota is the first Oregon quarterback with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. ... The Ducks had seven touchdown drives last less than two minutes after recording eight such drives last week. ... TEs Jake McGee (eight catches for 53 yards) and Zachary Swanson (four catches for 43 yards) led the Cavaliers' receivers.