*** BIG CAVEAT HERE... Oregon won. Period. Not being zoobish but analytical in the following. ***
I just looked a the box score for the first time since the game. I usually watch it real time but was too frustrated to pay attention during the game.
Utah wins time of possession.
Utah is equivalent to Oregon on yards per pass play (Huntley had a better completion % than Hebert).
Utah had 2.5 yards LESS per carry than Oregon. This was an obvious killer.
Where the game was truly lost was in the turnover category... I am going to call it 7 turnovers (I'll explain).
- 2 Interceptions (one late so of no terrible consequence).
- 0-4 on 4th down conversions (I can only remember 2 - ugh).
- 1 blocked punt (no score off that block but definite field position flip). Perhaps this is the 4th missed conversion I cannot remember.
First Huntley interception was a tremendous play by Breeze. He baited the throw. Dude shouldn't have been playing then but is what it is.
The 4th down conversion fiascos however is what lost the game. They are akin to a turnover. Cannot win when that happens.
- The first one was a major shift - Utah was driving and moving the ball with some ease. That gave Oregon juice.
- The ultimate failed conversion was Utah down 1 score early 4th qtr (right?) and Whitt's decision to go for it on the 50. Whitt is a god to me but I wish he didn't make that one. Live to fight another day. Utah had momentum and Oregon wasn't doing much. Pin them there and I think Utah ties the game up then who knows what happens? That stop re-energized Oregon and sealed the game IMO.
Lost opportunities... Too bad.
