by Steve Mims
EUGENE, OREGON
Oregon awoke from a first-half slumber to run away from Washington State for a 38-24 victory on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
Oregon took its first lead on Bo Nix’s two-yard touchdown run late in the first half to take a 17-13 lead at the break. Nix tossed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving, who later ran for a 43-yard score.
Tez Johnson caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Nix to put the Ducks ahead 38-16 in the fourth quarter.
Nix went 18-for-25 for 293 yards and two touchdowns, including six passes for 94 yards to Johnson. Irving ran for 129 yards while Jordan James added 103 on the ground.
Oregon improved to 6-1 overall, including a 3-1 mark in Pac-12 play. The Ducks moved up one spot in the AP poll to No. 8 as they prepare to visit No. 13 Utah Saturday in a game that will likely end the national-title hopes for the loser.
VOLLEYBALL
Ninth-ranked Oregon swept California before losing to No. 3 Stanford at Matthew Knight Arena.
Kara McGhee had 14 kills and Mimi Colyer added 13 while Hannah Pukis had 40 assists as the Ducks defeated Cal 25-18, 25-22, 25-21. McGhee and Colyer led the way again with 15 and 14 kills, respectively, in Stanford’s 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19 win over Oregon.
The Ducks are 17-4, including a 7-3 conference record, as they prepare to visit Washington State and Washington this weekend.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Ching-Tzu Chen tied for third place by shooting 5-under par 208 to lead the Ducks to an 11th-place finish at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Kiara Romero tied for 42nd for Oregon at 218.
SOCCER
Oregon lost 8-1 at California and 2-0 at Stanford to fall to 0-14-2, including an 0-8 mark in conference games.
Steve Mims has spent 25 years as a sportswriter, including 21 years at The Register-Guard. He covered University of Oregon athletics from 2013-2020. He works in Eugene as a registered representative and insurance agent at PBC Insurance. He can be reached at smims@pbcins.com.