Funviralpark Bo Nix rallied Oregon to a dramatic come-from-behind victory over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.
The Knicks threw for 56 of 205 yards on the Ducks’ final drive and threw the game-winning 6-yard touchdown to Chase Cota with 19 seconds remaining to give the No. 15 Ducks a 28-27 victory and win Wednesday night. defeated the Tar Heels on at Petco Park.
“We’ve played 720 minutes of football this season, and we’ve got to play another 60 minutes, and we talked about playing all 60 minutes before the game,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “I’m really proud of our players for finishing this season. We talked tonight about ending the season with an exclamation point instead of a period, and I think it was an exclamation point.”
Ten down with 9:13 left, the Knicks finished the game 9/10 for 103 yards and two touchdowns, first finding Troy Franklin with 6:58 left. After the Oregon defense forced his UNC to score a 44-yard field goal, the Knicks got 56 yards on his 5-for-6 to give the winning score to Cota, who tied the game, and Camden to his Lewis’ His PAT bounced off the left upright and gave Oregon. lead.
“We ran and had some explosive plays,” Knicks said. “(Terence Ferguson) needed a long time to set us up. And 2nd, 4th and reach a manageable level, it’s who wants more on that particular play and who’s willing to compete until the final whistle.”
Bucky Irving tied a career-high 149 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. The sophomore tallied six carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
“[Lanning]told me to trust the man in front of me,” Irving said. “I want to thank him for teaching me what I can do. I also want to thank his O-line for always being there for me.”
After a three-and-out to open the game, Oregon drove 54 yards and Irving accounted for 41 yards, including a 2-yard score, giving UO an early 7–0 lead.
A 57-yard kickoff return gave North Carolina great field position on the ensuing drive, culminating with a 6-yard touchdown from Drake May to Andre Green Jr. to tie the game.
Each kicker missed a field goal before the Ducks regained the lead with a 66-yard touchdown. Irving cut back left to right and found an open field thanks to a series of great blocks.
The Knicks conceded that sixth-year senior center Alex Forsythe, who left the game with an injury in the second half, made the pre-snap play call for a long touchdown.
North Carolina State (9-5) responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 14-yard score from May to Bryson Nesbitt to tie at 14-14.
Oregon State (10-3) drove to UNC 16 with less than a minute left until halftime. Knicks’ pass to Terrance Ferguson was deflected multiple times, including Tar Heels linebacker his Power Echols’ leg, and UO returned him 40 yards. 49. It was his third time this season that the Knicks have been intercepted in his zone by the Reds, and his second by tipping him on the ball.
May connected with Kobe Pacer for a 49-yard touchdown to give UNC a 21-14 halftime lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, Noah Burnett hit a 19-yard field goal to make it 24-14 UNC with 9:04 remaining.
The Knicks quickly recovered Oregon thanks to a defensive pass interference penalty on UO’s first long attempt of the night, a 30-yard pass to Cota, and finally a 6-yard touchdown pass to Franklin.
“It takes 11 guys to accept and believe in that drive,” Nicks said. “And I think it was 10 points, but you have to score there. and I definitely defeated it.”
Ducks linebacker Masefune earned Defensive Player of the Game honors and recorded 3 of 7 tackles on UNC’s ensuing drive, stalling at UO 27 with 2:29 remaining.
“It wasn’t just on the play, it was on the whole drive,” Huna said. “To do their job, to focus on making simple things better, that’s what we did. rice field.”
Best performance: Bucky Irving had 13 carries for a career-high tie for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Major contributors: Bo Nix went 23/30 for 205 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Troy Franklin scored 5 catches and his 1 touchdown for 24 yards. Terrence Ferguson recorded 5 catches for 84 yards. Mase Huna had seven tackles with two losses, including a sack. UNC’s Drake May had 18 of 35 for 206 yards, 3 touchdowns and 12 carries for 45 yards.
Key play: Power Echols intercepted Nyx in the red zone near the end of the first half to tie the score at 14-14. UNC scored on the ensuing play to take a 21-14 lead.
It ended when: Lewis’ PAT banked through the uprights.
— James Crepea reports from San Diego.
