9-23-21 Emerald Media - Gameday

GAMEDAY 9.23.21

THE DUCKS’ MENACE ON THE

BACK END

Verone McKinley’s ball-hawking abilities lift up a wounded Oregon defense.

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HAPPY HOUR

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GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.

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NEWSROOM

Editor in Chief Sarah-Mae McCullough Managing Editor Jael Calloway Copy Chief Amanda Lurey Sports Editor Shane Hoffmann Reporters Daniel Friis Charlie Folkestad Charles Gearing Dylan Conway Aaron Heisen Photo Editor Ian Enger Design Editor Kira Chan

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President & Publisher Bill Kunerth x317 Vice President, Operations Kathy Carbone x302 Creative Director Sam Rudkin x327

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ON THE COVER

Ducks cornerback Verone McKinley III (23) sets up pre snap. Oregon Ducks football takes on Oregon State for the Civil War game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 30, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

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OREGON

ARIZONA

OREGON OFFENSE

ARIZONA OFFENSE Tayvian Cunningham

No. 11

WR-X

SR/TR

Kris Hutson No. 4 WR-Z FR

BJ Casteel

No. 5

WR-Z

RS JR

Mycah Pittman No. 4 WR-H SO

Stanley Berryhill III

No. 86

WR-F

RS JR

George Moore No. 77 LT SR/TR

Jordan Morgan No. 77 LT SO

T.J. Bass No. 56 LG JR/TR

Donovan Laie No. 78 LG SR

Alex Forsyth

RS JR

Josh McCauley

No. 50

OC

RS SR

Ryan Walk No. 53 RG RS JR

Josh Donovan

No. 56

RG

RS JR/TR

Steven Jones

Paiton Fears

No. 74

RT

RS JR/TR

Johnny Johnson III

No. 3

No. 78

No. 74

WR-X

OC

RT

SR

RS SO

Spencer Webb No. 18 TE-F RS SO

Bryce Wolma No. 81 TE SR

Moliki Matavao No. 8 TE-Y FR

Gunner Cruz

Anthony Brown No. 13 QB GR/TR

Michael Wiley No. 6 RB SO

CJ Verdell No. 7 RB JR

Clay Markoff

No. 9

No. 44

RS SR/TR

Brandon Dorlus No. 3 DE SO

Jalen Harris

Popo Aumavae

No. 50

NT

RS JR

Kyon Barrs No. 92 NT SO

Keyon Ware-Hudson

No. 59

DT

RS FR

Trevon Mason No. 90 DT SR/TR

No. 49

DE

RS JR

Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 5 JOKER SO

JB Brown No. 12 ANCHO SR

Mase Funa No. 47 SAM SO

Anthony Pandy

Noah Sewell No. 1 MIKE FR

Treshaun Hayward

Keith Brown No. 21 WILL FR

Kenny Hebert No. 18 SAM GR/TR

DJ James No. 00 BCB SO

Christian Young No. 5 VIPER JR

Steve Stevens IV

No. 7

BS

RS SO

Isaiah Rutherford

Verone McKinley III

No. 23

FS

RS SO

Jaydin Young No. 3 FS FR

WILL

SR

No. 24

MIKE

GR/TR

No. 2

CB

SO/TR

Jaxen Turner

No. 21

ROVER

SO

Bennett Williams No. 15 STAR JR/TR

Christian Roland-Wallace No. 4

CB

SO

Tom Snee

No. 38

PT/H

No. 8

Mykael Wright No. 2 FCB SO

ARIZONA SPECIAL TEAMS

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS RS SO

Kyle Ostendorp No. 19 PT SO

Camden Lewis No. 49 PK/KO SO

Lucas Havirisik No. 43 PK/KO SR

Karsten Battles No. 63 LS JR

Seth MacKeller No. 64 LS SO

Mycah Pittman No. 4 PR SO

Jacob Meeker-Hackett

Mykael Wright No. 2 KR SO

Michael Wiley No. 6 KR SO Tayvian Cunningham

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FB

RS FR/TR

ARIZONA DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE

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No. 32

No. 11

H

KR

RS SR/TR

SR/TR

GAMEDAY

POST-GAME THOUGHTS FROM THE DUCKS’ MATCHUP WITH STONY BROOK Despite an imperfect first half performance, the Ducks came up with a 48-7 win over Stony Brook BY: Charles Gearing @GearingCharlie

Isaah Crocker (88) gestures to the crowd after the game ends. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/ Emerald)

In the eyes of many, the Ducks’ week three matchup with Stony Brook was seen as a chance for the team to recuperate, refocus and rest their battered bodies still wounded from the week before — a historic win over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

It’s safe to say that many anticipated a blowout — a game where we wouldn’t likely see Anthony Brown, CJ Verdell and a plethora of other starting athletes by the beginning of the third quarter.

It was a blowout, but it didn’t always feel like it. After a series of twists and turns, Oregon defeated Stony Brook by a score of 48-7.

After the first half, the once roaring, presumptuous and even arrogant Oregon fans were quiet, as if to eat their words.

They were right to do so.

Following a first frame chock-full of ebbs and flows on the offensive side most markedly shown by a series of back-to-back sacks on the final plays of the second quarter, the Ducks led only 17-7 over the Seawolves.

On both sides of the ball, the Ducks were unable to gain rhythm, only breaking off big plays in flashes.

“I would say there’s a couple things we need to work on, and one of those things is consistency,” Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell said.

The Ducks walked into Autzen on Saturday a 41-point favorite, and perhaps they’d taken a bit too much notice.

But as imperfect a first half as it was, Oregon still managed small successes –– most notably based on its ability to spread the ball to a variety of targets on the perimeters and across the middle.

In the first 30 minutes of play, seven receivers churned out a total of 15 catches for the Ducks for 158 yards through the air. The number doesn’t jump out at you, but the Oregon offensive game at points was clean, every bit as much as it had been against Ohio State.

Defensively, the Ducks took care of business in the first half, allowing only

Dont’e Thorton (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown as Oregon fans cheer him on. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/ Emerald)

seven points, all the while winning the turnover battle 2-0 with a pair of interceptions from Verone McKinley III. “I’m always running to the ball,” McKinley said.

But, still, the Ducks had a battle on their hands.

Many were right about not seeing much of Anthony Brown in the second half, but most people couldn’t have expected it to go the way it did.

Oregon fans have been rearing to see Ty Thompson take the field since his commitment, but they hoped his first appearance would be to close out a blowout win.

Thompson is the highest ranked quarterback to ever commit to the University of Oregon, and the Autzen faithful love him for it.

Once again, it wasn’t what they anticipated.

Thompson took the reigns of the offense from the opening whistle in the third until the waning moments of the fourth, throwing his first collegiate touchdown — a touch pass over the line to fellow freshman Terrance Ferguson — with 7:45 to go in the quarter. He added another, passing to freshman wideout Dont’e Thornton, who added a 40-yard run after the catch before reaching the end zone.

In the latter stages of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, under Thompson’s command, it seemed the dust had settled. The Ducks led comfortably, 31-7 and despite a few mishaps — including a three and out on more-than-apt field position — it stayed that way for the remainder.

But an “or” still remains on the depth chart at the backup quarterback spot.

As they are everywhere else in the lineup, the Ducks are incredibly deep in the quarterback room. And, at least for now, the second spot is in a dead heat between Thompson and Jay Butterfield, who took over the offense late in the fourth on Saturday and put together a scoring drive of his own.

But Saturday’s game wasn’t as pretty as the score may reflect. If it shows anything, it’s that the Ducks can be as good as any opponent, for better or for worse.

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GAMEDAY

DJ JOHNSON’S VERSATILITY SPREADS BEYOND HIS COLLEGIATE YEARS DJ Johnson has been asked to fill in on both sides of the ball for Oregon. It’s a job that he’s no stranger to, as it’s been asked of him for years now.

BY: Daniel Friis @danielfriis10

Ducks outside linebacker DJ Johnson (7) races down the field during practice on Aug. 20, 2019. (Marissa Willke/Emerald)

With 14 seconds remaining in Oregon’s week two matchup with Ohio State, Buckeyes quarterback CJ Stroud dropped back five steps to his own 10-yard line. Down by 7, it was the Buckeyes’ last chance to escape a significant upset.

Stroud rolled out to his right to avoid the collapsing pocket, but not for long. DJ Johnson, a converted tight end playing defensive line at the time, pushed his man off to the side and wrapped his arms around Stroud’s waist and to the ground.

Ballgame.

In one of college football’s most electrifying environments, Johnson stepped up big. He hadn’t played in-game snaps along the defensive line in two seasons. But early-season injuries to Kayvon Thibodeaux and Mase Funa were enough to call Johnson’s name.

Since Oregon’s Rose Bowl win against Wisconsin in 2020, Johnson has played tight end for the Ducks –– despite playing predominantly defensive end his entire life.

The transition was seamless.

Johnson was one of Oregon’s most lethal weapons in the shortened 2020 season, reeling in three touchdowns and 11.3 yards per touch. With his bulky frame and long reach, he shifted from a platoon defensive lineman to one of Oregon’s most dependable red-zone targets in under a year.

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“It doesn’t surprise me,” Johnson’s high school coach John Heffernan said when asked about the position change. “Coaches make him go out there and do something that he hasn’t done in a while — it’s just the kind of teammate he is.”

Johnson was a Swiss Army knife at Luther Bank High School in Sacramento, California. He lined up as a receiver and hauled in 17 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns over his three-year varsity career. He even got a snap at running back, which he took 42 yards to the end zone.

“Sometimes we’d let him line up on offense on smaller guys,” Heffernan said. “It doesn’t matter what you told him to do because he’d do it.”

For all the success Johnson had on the offensive side of the ball, his home was still the defensive line. He racked up 225 tackles, 38.5 sacks and forced 12 fumbles in his high school career. The Titans went 24-13 over the four-year period.

Not only did Johnson float around the offensive side of the ball, but he did the same on the defensive side. Heffernan ran multiple defensive schemes at Luther Bank, forcing Johnson into a multitude of tasks like spying on the quarterback and playing off the ball in zone coverage.

Every job that Johnson was asked to do, he did with ease, which reflects his work ethic off the field as well.

“He’s very selfless and quiet,” Heffernan said. “He

didn’t say a whole lot, but he went out there, did his business and led by example with everything he did.”

Since Johnson transferred to Oregon from the University of Miami, he has exclusively played either tight end or defensive end. The first game in which he did both was against the Buckeyes, where he had a big 11-yard conversion to go along with his game-ending sack.

“It felt great,” Johnson said, reflecting on his role during the Ohio State game. “But it was a better team win, and we are looking to Stony Brook now.”

In the Ducks’ 48-7 win over Stony Brook, Johnson, for the second week in a row, saw time at both the defensive line and tight end.

Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has aired his confidence in Johnson. He said he doesn’t feel like he needs to give Johnson help because of his understanding of the team’s schemes and his recognition of what the other team is trying to accomplish.

With the defensive line still relatively bruised up and a young tight end core, Johnson will likely see snaps at both positions moving forward. It’s a challenge that he embraces as the Ducks are preparing for a run at defending their Pac-12 crown –– and potentially more.

“Whatever the team needs is wherever I’ll be,” Johnson said. “Just be ready to get in.”

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GAMEDAY

VERONE McKINLEY III LEADS DUCKS DEFENSE AS THEY IMPROVE TO NO. 3 IN THE COUNTRY Verone McKinley III stepped up for the Ducks in one of the biggest moments in program history against Ohio State.

BY: Aaron Heisen @aaron_heisen Verone McKinley III celebrates with Johnny Johnson III after making an interception. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

For Oregon safety Verone McKinley III, everything has come around full circle.

When the No. 11 Oregon Ducks took on the No. 16 Auburn Tigers in 2019, McKinley III had a chance to seal the victory. But, with nine seconds remaining on first-and-10 from the 26-yardSeth Williams. Williams hauled in Bo Nix’s pass as McKinley III conceded the winning touchdown.

The Ducks lost 27-21.

More than two years have passed since that game. McKinnley III used that time to prepare for his next big moment, ensuring the outcome would go in his favor.

Leading up to the Ohio State game, McKinley III had dreams of catching the game-winning interception.

On Saturday, Sept. 11, those dreams turned into

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reality.

The Ducks established a 7-point lead late in the game as their defense took the field, knowing one play could end the game. McKinley III made that play.

He tracked down CJ Stroud’s pass in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter to seal the upset victory for the Ducks over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“We saw a sense of urgency in practice,” defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. “I learned that we have guys who are ready to step up in the big spots.”

McKinley III was certainly one of those guys.

His game-sealing interception was a result of the hard work he put in at practice and the time he’s dedicated to watching film.

“On the TV copy, you can see me saying,

‘They’re about to run an under route,’” McKinley III said. “[Stroud] overthrew it, and I was in a position to get a pick.”

McKinley III’s goal heading into the marquee matchup was to make his presence known, he said. He established that mindset in the first quarter, and it carried throughout the game, allowing him to maximize his opportunity on the biggest play.

After coming through with the game-winning pick against the Buckeyes, the ball-hawking safety topped that performance in week three against Stony Brook.

On the first drive, the Seawolves attempted to convert on third-and-6. Delante Hellams Jr. ran a seam route looking for the target, but McKinley III jumped the route.

GAMEDAY

Ducks cornerback Verone Mckinley III (23) breaks down into a defensive stance before the play breaks. Oregon Ducks Football takes on the University of Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 16, 2019. (Connor Cox/Emerald)

“I feel like I’m a playmaker.”

- Verone McKinley III

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GAMEDAY He stepped up, asserting himself between the ball and the receiver to intercept Tyquell Fields’ pass.

McKinley III added another interception in the following quarter, giving him three picks through the Ducks’ first three games.

“I feel like I’m a playmaker,” McKinley III said.

“I’m always running to the ball, and I understand

the projection of where the ball is going to land.”

The Ducks defense will go as far as McKinley III’s leadership and playmaking abilities can take them.

Head coach Mario Cristobal knows the veteran safety is one of the most crucial pieces for his defense.

“Verone epitomizes our culture,” Cristobal said.

“He’s a great leader and player… Guys like that drive

the locker room. I can’t say enough about Verone, he’s special and we’re blessed to have him.”

The Ducks begin Pac-12 play next week when they host the Arizona Wildcats. For a team with high aspirations of defending their conference title and reaching new heights this season, plays like McKinley III’s must continue throughout the year.

Ducks safety Verone McKinley III (23) makes a tackle. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

PAC-12 POWER RANKINGS AFTER

DISASTROUS WEEK THREE Despite a pair of big non-conference wins, the Pac-12 has done little to silence doubters during the 2021 season.

BY: Charlie Folkestad @folkestad3 The Pac-12 has had a rough start to the college football season.

In week one, it was the Pac12 North going 1-5, including Washington losing to FCS Montana and Washington State falling apart against Utah State. Two weeks later, the supposedly-stronger Pac-12 South posted a 1-5 record of its own — of course, the lone win was a conference game. The Pac-12 as a whole is 18-18 on the year.

The pool of Pac-12 champion contenders is shrinking –– or maybe widening –– but one thing is clear: It’s Oregon, then everyone else.

Oregon | 3-0 (0-0) | Week 3: 48-7 W vs Stony Brook | Week 4: vs Arizona The Ducks already have one of the most impressive wins in all of college football on their resume and boast the most talent in the conference.

They will likely be favored in every remaining matchup this year and sit on a tier of their own in the Pac-12.

Oregon Ducks fans gather in the student section during the beginning of the game. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

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UCLA | 2-1 (0-0) | Week 3: 40-37 L vs Fresno State | Week 4: @ Stanford

The Pac-12’s second-best win belongs to UCLA (38-27 over LSU), who was a trendy pick to win the conference before a wild home loss to Fresno State Saturday night. UCLA faces a menacing schedule going forward, but they still look like the best team in the South division.

USC | 2-1 (1-1) | Week 3: 45-14 W @ Washington State | Week 4: vs Oregon State In order for the Pac-12 to regain national relevance, USC needs to be in the national spotlight. It is right now, but for all the wrong reasons.

Head coach Clay Helton was fired after capitulating against Stanford at home in week two, so former Oregon assistant Donte Williams now leads the talented Trojans as they try to regroup.

Stanford | 2-1 (1-0) | Week 3: 41-23 W @ Vanderbilt | Week 4: vs UCLA A dismal loss to Kansas State in week one confirmed many biases about Stanford being sub-par this season, but David Shaw bounced back

GAMEDAY with a big win in the LA Coliseum seven days later. The Cardinal will still have to improve if they want to challenge Oregon for the Pac-12 North title.

Arizona State | 2-1 (0-0) | Week 3: 27-17 L @ BYU | Week 4: vs Colorado The Sun Devils lost a top-25 visit to BYU last weekend, a team that would be leading the Pac-12 South if it were a member (wins over Arizona, Utah and ASU). With the South division wide open, ASU has an all-important game against Colorado this Saturday.

Oregon State | 2-1 (0-0) | Week 3: 42-0 W vs Idaho | Week 4: @ USC Jonathan Smith’s team lands in the top half of these rankings by virtue of not imploding thus far. A loss to Purdue and wins over Hawaii and Idaho went exactly as expected, but opening Pac-12 play with a trip to USC will be a tough test. Still, the path to challenging Oregon in the North is there.

Washington | 1-2 (0-0) | Week 3: 52-3 W vs Arkansas State | Week 4: vs Cal Washington owns the most embarrassing loss in FBS college football: Montana 13, UW 7. Its offense finally clicked against Arkansas State, but this still looks like a team fighting for a bowl berth, not a conference title.

Utah | 1-2 (0-0) | Week 3: 33-30 L @ San Diego State | Week 4: vs Washington State In week two, Utah lost to its bitter rival BYU for the first time since 2009. In week three, they lost in triple overtime to a Mountain West school.

A tough schedule and questions at quarterback await Kyle Whittingham and the Utes in conference play.

Cal | 1-2 (0-0) | Week 3: 42-30 W vs Sacramento State | Week 4: @ Washington Cal has been slightly worse than expected, but the ceiling was never very high. Close losses to Nevada and TCU, plus an unconvincing win over Sacramento State, frame Cal as more of a pest than legitimate threat in Pac12 play. The Golden Bears now face a trip to Montlake, where they have won twice in their last three tries.

Colorado | 1-2 (0-0) | Week 3: 30-0 L vs Minnesota | Week 4: @ Arizona State Colorado stunned the nation, nearly beating No. 5 Texas A&M in week two, but getting crushed by a middling Minnesota team this week made it seem like an outlier. Any team that posts 323 yards of offense over two weeks has a lot of work to do — especially one with road games against ASU, Oregon, UCLA and Utah remaining.

Washington State | 1-2 (0-1) | Week 3: 45-14 L vs USC | Week 4: @ Utah Wazzu head coach Nick Rolovich dominated offseason headlines for all the wrong reasons, and his team has done little to generate any positive PR on the field. This program may have reached its peak under Mike Leach and is staring down tough times unless they can recruit more talent to the Palouse.

Arizona | 0-3 (0-0) | Week 3: 21-19 L vs Northern Arizona | Week 4: @ Oregon With all the disappointment in the Pac-12 this season, no team has been totally winless — except Arizona. If the Wildcats can’t beat an FCS team at home, it’s tough to see them winning any games this season.

“The pool of Pac-12 champion contenders is shrinking – or maybe widening – but one thing is clear: It’s Oregon, then everyone else.”

Rain continues to fall as Dontae Manning (8) takes the field with his Oregon teammates. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/ Emerald)

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GAMEDAY Travis Dye (26) breaks through the Stony Brook defense.

The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

D A E H A G N I K A O N O LO Z I R A E H T TO S T A C D L I W THE DUCKS WILL HOST ARIZONA FOR THEIR FIRST IN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE SEASON BY: Dylan Conway @dconway_3 After sweeping their non-conference opponents, the Ducks will take on their first Pac-12 squad in the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday.

Arizona is the only winless team left in the conference, having dropped their first three games of the 2021 season to BYU, San Diego State and Northern Arizona.

Arizona wasn’t expected to be overly competitive this year with Pac-12 opponents, but not many thought they would lose to Northern Arizona for the first time since 1932 — a team coming off a 26-point loss to Sam Houston State and a 27-point

loss to South Dakota.

With these factors in play, Arizona was favored by 23 points and paid NAU half a million dollars to come play them in Tucson. With this loss, the Wildcats’ losing streak sits at 15, with the last win coming in 2019 at Colorado.

The Arizona defense isn’t a strength, but it’s given the team opportunities to win. Allowing 27.6 points per game, they also have four sacks and five turnovers on the season.

Senior linebacker Anthony Pandy leads the team with 25 total tackles, 12 of them solo. Pandy also

forced a fumble last week against NAU. Defensive lineman Kyon Barrs has also been a standout with a team-leading 2.5 sacks and 13 total tackles. The sophomore has notched at least a half sack in each game this season.

The Wildcats defense still needs some work, but it’s not a glaring weakness — in stark contrast to the Arizona offense that has mustered only five touchdowns through three games.

Averaging only 16.3 points per game and utilizing three quarterbacks already, the offense has been a soft spot all season.

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GAMEDAY Noah Sewell (1) attempts to block a pass coming from Stony Brook quarterback Tyquell Fields (4). The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

Arizona, coming off one of its worst losses in program history, will have its toughest task of the season against the No. 3 Ducks.”

Going into last week’s game, head coach Jedd Fisch said he was “completely unsure” about Arizona’s quarterback situation. The Wildcats have been switching back and forth between two quarterbacks this season, and it has been called the worst quarterback situation in the Pac-12.

Quarterback Gunner Cruz had a decent first game against BYU, throwing for 336 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the midst of a quarterback battle with his teammate Will Plummer, Cruz had the opportunity to solidify himself as a starter against San Diego State.

But Cruz never found a rhythm, leading the team to only seven points off 11 drives as he was replaced

by Plummer in the late third quarter, who then finished the game.

Plummer got the start against NAU. Cruz has more yards (406) and a better completion percentage (68.8%) on the year than Plummer, who has 309 yards off 53.7% passing.

Both quarterbacks have two touchdown passes and two picks on the year.

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Another weakness of the Arizona side has been the run game. With no rushing touchdowns so far this season, there hasn’t been a standout in the backfield.

Their leading rusher is Drake Anderson with 115 yards on 25 carries –– followed by Michael Wiley, rushing 23 times for 69 yards.

One bright spot for the Arizona offense and a player to watch on Saturday is junior receiver Stanley Berryhill III, who is having a breakout year. Leading the team in receptions (28) and receiving yards (263), Berryhill III also has four carries for 46 yards.

With a career high already in receptions, he is 26 yards away from his career-high in yards –– which he will try to earn in Autzen on Saturday.

Going against another opponent in a clear mismatch, the Ducks matchup extremely well against a Wildcat team that can’t run the ball and has no true starting quarterback.

Arizona, coming off one of its worst losses in program history, will have its toughest task of the season against the No. 3 Ducks.

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