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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Bo Nix threw for 265 yards and ran for three touchdowns, Noah Whittington added an early 55-yard touchdown run and No. 12 Oregon rolled to a 49-22 victory over Arizona on Saturday night.
The Ducks (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) scored touchdowns on seven consecutive drives starting midway through the first quarter, building a 49-13 lead by late in the third.
Oregon piled up 580 yards of total offense — including 306 yards on the ground — doing pretty much whatever it wanted against Arizona (3-3, 1-2).
Nix was a great on the ground for a second straight game, scoring on a pair of 2-yard runs before breaking free for a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He ran for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s over Stanford.
The Ducks have won five straight since a season-opening loss to Georgia, scoring more than 40 points in every game. They built a 28-13 lead by halftime Saturday. Nix completed 13 of 14 passes for 187 yards as the offense racked up 346 total yards before the break.
Arizona managed to stay within striking distance thanks to a 52-yard touchdown run by DJ Williams and a pair of field goals from Tyler Loop, including a 36-yarder as time expired in the second quarter.
But the Ducks erased any doubt about the outcome in the third. Oregon opened the second half with an efficient eight-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Nix’s second touchdown run for a 35-13 advantage. A few minutes later, Bucky Irving ran for a 22-yard touchdown and a 42-13 lead.
Arizona’s Jayden de Laura completed 24 of 42 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
Oregon had to punt on its first offensive drive but quickly found its offensive rhythm.
Whittington gave the Ducks a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter on a superb 55-yard touchdown run. The 5-foot-8, 194-pounder made one quick cut, evading a tackle, and then sprinted straight forward before blowing past Arizona defenders on his way to the end zone.
The Ducks added to their momentum early in the second. Nix hit a diving Kris Hutson for a 42-yard gain that was just short of a touchdown. On the next play, Nix kept it himself for a 2-yard touchdown and 14-3 lead.
Arizona had a promising first drive snuffed out at the Oregon 11 when de Laura and Jacob Cowing botched a handoff. Oregon’s DJ Johnson was there to fall on the fumble.
TARGETING
Oregon’s Dontae Manning was called for targeting in the second quarter and ejected. He had a helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona’s Cowing.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona: There’s no shame in losing to the Ducks, but there’s little doubt the Wildcats will be disappointed, particularly with the defensive performance. Arizona’s given up 49 points in two of the past three weeks and that’s not going to win a lot of football games.
Oregon: The Ducks are gaining steam and now get two weeks to prepare for a showdown against UCLA, which could be a Top 10 team by the time the game is played. Nix — an Auburn transfer — is starting to look comfortable with his new school.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Travels to face Washington next Saturday.
Oregon: Plays at home vs. UCLA on Oct. 22.
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