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Oregon Ducks vs. Purdue Boilermakers Week 2 Recap

The Oregon Ducks will gladly take their first win of the season. In September, any "W" is a good one. But unless Chip Kelly's charges radically ramp up their level of play, this game will serve as a harbinger of more tough times for the gang in green.

Make no mistake: Saturday night's two-point triumph, sealed when the visitors from Purdue failed on a two-point conversion with 61 seconds left, was attained following one of the most nightmarish weeks an FBS football program could ever have. It could very well be that Oregon is still scrambling and searching in the wake of LeGarrette Blount's absence and the trauma his punch created in Eugene. In a few weeks (when Cal comes to Autzen Stadium), perhaps Oregon will be a different... and much better... football team.

Then again, maybe not.

The Ducks need to make sure that their battle with the Boilermakers is not a sign of things to come. For the better part of the first three quarters, Purdue won most snaps, prevailed in the trenches, and imposed its will on Kelly's crew. It was only because of huge defensive plays--a pick-six by UO's Walter Thurmond III, a fumble return for a touchdown by Javes Lewis, and an early-game interception by Casey Matthews near the Oregon red zone--that the Ducks stayed relatively even on the scoreboard.

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Given a reprieve by timely defensive playmaking, the Ducks' inconsistent offense finally roared to life down the stretch. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli's passing, combined with the running of running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner--who scored on a 21-yard touchdown run with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter--gave the home team a 38-30 lead. The eight-point spread was due to a missed extra point on the part of the Boilermakers; when the visitors from Big Ten country scored a touchdown on a 4th and 11 trick play with 1:01 remaining in regulation, they had to go for two. Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott found tight end Kyle Adams in the back of the end zone against tight coverage from a pair of Oregon defenders. Elliott managed to fit the ball into a small window, but Adams was unable to drag his first foot in bounds. Replay clearly showed that both of Adams's feet touched the fat white portion of the end line, enabling the Ducks to maintain their tenuous two-point lead. When UO recovered the ensuing onside kick, the upset bid had been averted, and Chip Kelly's team began the process of putting Boise State in the rearview mirror.

Oregon's offensive front didn't dominate this game. Masoli is still feeling his way into the season, and lacks the command he displayed in the final months of 2008. Oregon's performance level is inconsistent, and the Ducks truly don't know what to expect of themselves at this point.

All those realities offer cause for concern, but if the feel-good flavor of sweet survival gives this ballclub extra energy and motivation on the practice field, perhaps the Ducks will realize that this ugly and uneven win was just the kind of tonic they needed. If this white-knuckler against Purdue manages to shake them loose and set them on the path to renewal, the Ducks will look back on Saturday's slugfest with gratitude.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Staff Writer