UCLA dominated by Oregon in second half of 42-14 loss

Maybe there will be a rematch.

If so, UCLA has some work to do.

UCLA became the first team this season to play No. 2-ranked Oregon to as much as a tie in the first half.

But it was all downhill after that.

The No. 12-ranked Bruins were shutout in the second half of a 42-14 loss to the Ducks at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

And as UCLA stalled, Oregon got its offense very much in gear.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota completed all 10 of his second-half passes, and sophomore running back Byron Marshall turned in his fifth consecutive triple-digit rushing game, finishing with 133 yards and three touchdowns in 19 carries.

Mariota finished having completed 21 of 28 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown as Oregon improved to 8-0 overall, 5-0 in Pac-12 Conference play.

Marshall was a backup until De’Anthony Thomas injured his ankle. Thomas returned to action on Saturday, running for 31 yards in 10 carries, all in the first half. Thomas did not play in the second half.

Back of Marshall, Oregon showed it has yet another up and comer. Freshman Thomas Tyner ran for 77 yards in 14 carries. He had all 66 yards in an eight-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

Oregon finished with 325 yards rushing. UCLA had 219 yards rushing, including 93 in 22 carries by Paul Perkins and 72 and a touchdown in 15 carries by quarterback Brett Hundley.

However, Hundley suffered through a horrific passing game, throwing for just 64 yards in 13 completions in 19 passes. He had two passes intercepted.

The score might have been more lopsided if not for two Oregon mistakes.

The first, a fumble, set up UCLA’s first touchdown. Later, UCLA freshman Myles Jack blocked a punt, setting up the Bruins’ final touchdown.

UCLA fell to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in Pac-12 play.

The Bruins and Ducks could meet in a rematch in the Pac-12 championship game.

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Oregon 42, UCLA 14 (2:25 left in fourth quarter)

If sophomore Bryon Marshall is the future (and present) of Oregon’s running attack, then freshman Thomas Tyler is whatever is after that.

It all looks bright for the Ducks.

Tyler accounted for all 66 yards in Oregon’s latest scoring drive, running the ball on all eight plays.

His touchdown run was of two yards.

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Oregon 35, UCLA 14 (8:47 left in the fourth quarter)

Byron Marshall, only a sophomore, has rushed for more than 100 yards in all five games since given a chance when De’Anthony Thomas was injured.

He has 133 in 19 carries against UCLA, including his latest, a three-yard touchdown run -- his third scoring run of the game.

Thomas returned from an ankle injury to play in this game, and he had 31 yards in 10 carries in the first half. He has not run the ball in the second half.

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Another three and out for UCLA. Not what the Bruins needed.

Oregon ball at its own 35 with 11:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.

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Oregon 28, UCLA 14 (12:41 left in fourth quarter)

Give Oregon extra chances and the Ducks will make you pay.

Marcus Mariota connected with Bralon Addison on an 8-yard scoring pass to cash in on Avery Patterson’s interception.

Mariota has completed 19 of 26 passes for 210 yards. The Ducks also have 226 yards rushing, including 99 in 16 carries by Byron Marshall.

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Oregon has the ball at the UCLA 38 after Avery Patterson intercepted a Brett Hundley pass at the Oregon 28 and returned the ball 34 yards.

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The fourth quarter begins with UCLA at the 50 on third-and-20. Oregon leads, 21-14.

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Oregon 21, UCLA 14 (2:57 left in third quarter)

Oregon’s defense isn’t bad, either.

The Ducks stuck UCLA deep in Oregon territory after the turnover, and after a short punt Oregon drove 49 yards in five plays to take the lead on an 11-yard run by Byron Marshall.

Marshall had 42 of the 49 yards on the drive -- 35 rushing and 23 on a pass reception. He is the game’s leading rusher with 88 yards and two touchdowns in 13 carries.

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Another big break for UCLA.

Oregon was at the UCLA 5-yard line when a bad snap from center bounced through Marcus Mariota’s legs and was covered by UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr at the 12.

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Oregon has had the ball eight times, and scored twice.

There’s so much attention paid to UCLA’s offense and quarterback Brett Hundley, but the improvement of the defense under coordinator Lou Spanos and head coach Jim Mora is the biggest difference between this Bruins team and losing teams from the past.

Still tied, 14-14, with a eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

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UCLA 14, Oregon 14 (halftime)

Linebacker Myles Jack provided the opportunities and Brett Hundley cashed them in.

That allowed No. 12 UCLA to go into halftime tied with No. 2 Oregon, 14-14.

Jack forced a fumble and partially deflected a punt to set up the Bruins’ two touchdowns.

On the second play of the game, Jack stripped the ball from Oregon receiver Keanon Lowe and Randall Goforth recovered. The Bruins turned it into a touchdown, with the help of a pass interference penalty on a third down. Quarterback Brett Hundley scored on a four-yard run to take a 7-0 lead.

Jack later blocked a punt that gave the Bruins the ball at the Oregon 28 in the second quarter. Hundley closed the short drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Duarte on a third-and-four play to tie the score, 14-14. Earlier in the drive, Hundley scrambled for seven yards on a third-and-six play.

Hundley completed only six of nine passes for 43 yards. He had a pass intercepted by Boseko Lokombo inside the 10-yard line that killed a UCLA second quarter scoring drive.

The Bruins had 147 yards rushing in the half. Paul Perkins had 60 and Hundley 57.

UCLA’s defense handled Oregon’s potent offense. But a 66 yard Rodney Hardrick run on a fake punt set the Ducks up at the UCLA 8. De’Anthony Thomas caught a seven-yard pass, then scored on a one-yard run.

Oregon took a 14-7 lead on a 40-yard run by Byron Marshall in the first quarter.

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UCLA 14, Oregon 14 (1:35 left in the second quarter)

Linebacker Myles Jack creates another opportunity for UCLA.

Jack forced a fumble to set up the Bruins’ first touchdown. He partially blocked a punt gave UCLA the ball at the Oregon 28.

Brett Hundley closed the short drive with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Thomas Duarte on a third-and-four play. Earlier in the drive, Hundley scrambled for seven yards on a third-and-six play.

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Oregon 14, UCLA 7 (13:10 left in the second quarter)

You can stop Oregon’s offense, once, twice, three times. Maybe even for an entire quarter.

But the big plays are always lurking. Byron Marshall found a seam between UCLA’s Myles Jack and Fabian Moreau and sped 40 yards for a touchdown.

The Ducks found some rhythm on the 68-yard drive.

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UCLA 7, Oregon 7 (8:17 left in the first quarter)

Isn’t it enough that Oregon’s offense rolls up a kazillion yards per game. Does the Ducks’ punt team have to get involved?

A 66 yard Rodney Hardrick on a fake punt set Oregon up at the UCLA 8. De’Anthony Thomas caught a seven-yard pass, then scored on a one-yard run.

UCLA had 74 yards rushing against Stanford last week. Oregon’s punt team is eight short in the first quarter.

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UCLA 7, Oregon 0 (11:58 left in the first quarter)

How do you beat Oregon?

Force turnovers and capitalize on them.

UCLA linebacker Myles Jack stripped the ball from Oregon receiver Keanon Lowe and Randall Goforth recovered.

The Bruins turned it into a touchdown, with the help of a pass interference penalty on third done. Quarterback Brett Hundley scored on a four-yard run.

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This could be a watershed moment for 12th-ranked UCLA. A victory over the second-ranked Oregon today would keep the Bruins in the national discussion.

They could also claim they have gained ground on the Ducks.

“We strive to be national discussion,” UCLA linebacker Jordan Zumwalt said this week. “We don’t strive to be like Oregon.”

Beating Oregon, though, would be a monumental moment.

Since 1998, UCLA is 1-23 against teams that finished the season in the Associated Press top-10. The Bruins’ only victory was against USC, 13-9, in 2006.

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UCLA, ranked 12th, faces second-ranked Oregon today in Eugene. The Ducks, who average 56.7 points per game, will get an offensive boost from return of running back De’Anthony Thomas.

Think he’s excited?

Thomas posted this on his Twitter account Friday.

Translation: I’m going to play and play really, really well.

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Foster is reporting from Eugene, Ore., Hiserman from Los Angeles.

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