Semi-Final Game 1 - January 1, 2015 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA - #1 Oregon vs #4 BYU

Strength against strength. Oregon vs Oregon Lite...or as the SL Tribune just wrote “Oregon White”. (ugh!) They claim it was in reference to the all-white uni’s BYU would wear (see USU game) but it still was awful. Bottom line it will come down to which defense can stop the other team’s offense. One defense ranks in the top 50 in most category, the other in the top-10 or top-25 in most. We’ll see which defense flinches first. #1 Oregon gets the favorable setting in the Rose Bowl, but many national pundits who have ignored BYU are shocked at how much blue and white they see in the stands. TH and Bronco publicly acknowledge that "not only does BYU travel well people forget we have fans ALL OVER the country, especially here in the western united states...most of these people Kirk (Herbstreit) live here in LA or thereabouts...they simply flock to wherever BYU goes..."

Heisman trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota leads the Ducks on an opening drive into BYU’s territory, however, Fua shows that he’s just as fast as Marcus is and tracks him down as he scrambles for a first down. Oregon is forced to kick a field goal, which they make. While Oregon is used to the big lights of BCS-type bowl games, BYU looks a little wide-eyed in the opening quarter. Taysom, who also got to make the trip to NYC as a Heisman candidate, throws an interception on his third pass attempt of the evening, setting up another Oregon score. Thankfully, our D seems dialed in and forces a field goal. With the offense struggling to look sharp, Bronco gambles on 4th and 9 from midfield. The long snap goes directly to Lasike who starts to run to the short side of the field. Everyone in blue starts moaning at Anae’s awful obsession with the short side of the field, when they notice Blackmon darting toward him in a “fly sweep” motion. Lasike rugby pitches it to Blackmon who barely escapes the pursuing Oregon DE...Blackmon gets the edge and scampers all the way down to the Ducks’ 21 yard line. Four plays later, the Ducks forget the spy on Taysom and he scampers into the endzone from 11 yards out. BYU hasn’t played great but somehow has a 7-6 to end the first thanks to a great defensive effort.

Oregon is having difficulty challenging the edges but is destroying BYU up the middle. After a heavy dose of this Mariota stops on a dime and hits his WR, in stride, on a double move for a 59 yard TD pass and just like that the Ducks lead 13-7. Taysom finally settles down and starts completing a few passes. Thompson makes a spectacular grab over the middle and then Lasike rumbles in from 2 yards out to give BYU a 14-13 halftime lead. Not exactly the score-fest everyone envisioned.

The third quarter starts with a flurry. Hine returns the opening kick off to midfield and Taysom makes the best pass of the day, when he finds Curt Henderson (of all people) WIDE open in what was obviously blown coverage. The ball seems to be moving in slow motion but thankfully Curt secures the catch and takes two steps into the endzone to grab a 21-13 lead. However, Oregon marches back down in 1:14 seconds, scores a TD on a 21 yard run by Tyner. 21-20 Cougars hanging on for dear life. The Cougar faithful gasp in desperation as Taysom tries to hit Kurtz on an out pattern, under-throws the ball, and Ekpre-Olomu (an All-American 1st team CB) jumps the route and picks it off taking it 38 yards to the house. Taysom gets called on a personal foul penalty for taking him down with a horse collar after he had already crossed the finish line, but he sure showed off his speed trying to catch up to that guy. Oregon leads 27-21, heading into the fourth.

Things look extra bleak when Mariota nails an Oregon WR on a double move for a 45 yard TD 5 minutes into the 4th quarter to take a 34-21 lead. Hill starts the ensuing drive by overthrowing Leslie and then making the wrong read on the option and getting stuffed for a one yard loss. On 3rd and 11, Anae busts out with his delayed draw play and somehow JSwag avoids the Duck LB’er and scampers, then dives for a 12 yard run. 7 plays later he tops it off with a 4 yard TD run to narrow the gap 34-28. Graham Rowley knocks down a Mariota pass, Pikula comes up with a vicious run stopping hit and Trammel shows off his stuff by knocking away a would-be 3rd down completion. BYU forces a 3 and out with 8:28 left. A booming punt puts BYU back into their own territory, on the 23 yard line. Hill manufactures a 14 play, 4:23 second drive, extended by holding penalties and a false start. Hill goes 5-8 on the drive and the BYU offense converts on 4 of 5 third downs and is 1/1 on 4th down. BYU finally scores when Hill checks down to JSwag out of the backfield for the 9 yard TD and grabs a 35-34 lead.

As has been the case so often under Bronco, BYU’s D steps up big the last 4 minutes of the game. Oregon gets to midfield and goes for it on 4th and 2, but Mariota slips on the turf trying to escape Kaufusi and his knee is ruled down before he could pitch the ball. BYU is unable to run the clock out and/or score but pins Oregon deep into their own territory (11 yard line). With 1:19 left the Ducks mini-rally falls short when Mariota heaves a hail mary pass into the end zone from 65 yards out. Fua jumps up and knocks it down, BYU escapes with a win and is playing for the National Freaking Championship!

Player of the Game - JSwag, 24 carries, 112 yards, 2 TD’s, 6 rec, 66 yards