Fast start for Ducks

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 1, 2012

EUGENE — One victim down, two to go during Oregon’s march through its weak nonleague football campaign.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota led the Ducks to touchdowns on their first seven possessions and 50 first-half points as the reigning Pac-12 champs destroyed Arkansas State 57-34 Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

Impressive with his touch, running ability and decision-making, the redshirt freshman Mariota went 18 of 22 for 200 yards and three scores before giving way to backup Bryan Bennett with more than six minutes left in the first half.

Bennett, a sophomore who lost UO’s quarterback competition and considered transferring, led two first-half drives, one that ended with a missed Rob Beard field-goal attempt and another where the football bounced off receiver B.J. Kelley’s hands and into the arms of Arkansas State defender Chaz Scales.

The Red Wolves of the Sun Belt Conference could have cut the deficit to 50-13 at halftime, but Brian Davis missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt.

De’Anthony Thomas scored three touchdowns (two via pass receptions, another on a 33-yard run) and Kenjon Barner had two rushing TDs for the Ducks, who will play host to Fresno State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 at Autzen. After that, Tennessee Tech visits Eugene.

Arkansas State had some intrigue, considering that new coach Guz Malzahn helped Auburn beat the Ducks in the BCS national championship game in January 2011. But Saturday’s game was decided in the first quarter, after which UO led 29-0.

Other than giving up a sack on a blitz, Oregon knifed through the Red Wolves’ defense on its first possession. Mariota hit his first three pass attempts, and Barner scored from four yards. Punter Jackson Rice’s conversion pass to Dion Jordan made the score 8-0.

A little later, a holding penalty brought back Thomas’ 59-yard TD run, which had a great lead block near the goal line by Eric Dungy.

But Arkansas State was whistled for two personal-foul penalties, and Thomas finally got his six points, catching a 12-yard TD pass from Mariota as UO went ahead 15-0.

The Ducks led by three scores, 22-0, after defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu forced a fumble, and Mariota hit Josh Huff with a 4-yard TD pass.

On the drive that put UO up 29-0, Mariota showed off his running talent, going 17 yards on third down. Barner scored on a 17-yard run.

Mariota was 12 of 13 for 115 yards in the first quarter, and UO had 201 yards offense.

The score was 50-3 when Julian Jones caught a pass from ASU quarterback Ryan Aplin and scored on a 72-yard play.

The Ducks finished with 417 yards in the first half.

NOTES: Barner and Thomas combined for 130 yards rushing on 12 carries. … Third-string back Byron Marshall got plenty of work and scored his first career TD on a 3-yard run. … Offensive guard Carson York, recovering from knee surgery and rehabilitation, played but did not start. … Keanon Lowe, a sophomore receiver from Jesuit High, had four first-half receptions. … Fourteen Ducks caught at least one pass. … Attendance was announced as 56,144, the 83rd consecutive sellout at Autzen; the UO athletic department took to Groupon to sell tickets and somehow managed to extend the sellout streak. Thousands of fans left at halftime. … Rice, a Ray Guy Award finalist last season, punted for the first time midway through the third quarter, after UO’s third consecutive non-scoring drive led by Bennett. … Fresno State, under first-year coach Tim DeRuyter, beat Weber State 37-10 Saturday.

jvondersmith@portlandtribune.com

ARKANSAS STATE 0 10 10 14 — 34

OREGON 29 21 0 7 — 57

OREGON: 1st, 13:22, Barner 4 run (Dion Jordan pass from Jackson Rice)

OREGON: 1st, 9:19, De’Anthony Thomas 12 pass from Marcus Mariota (Rob Beard kick)

OREGON: 1st, 7:57, Josh Huff 4 pass from Marcus Mariota (Beard kick)

OREGON: 1st, 2:27, Barner 17 run (Beard kick)

ASU: 2nd, 13:57: Brian Davis 43 FG

OREGON: 2nd, 12:57, Thomas 12 pass from Mariota (Beard kick)

OREGON: 2nd, 10:45, Thomas 33 TD run (Beard kick)

OREGON: 2nd, 7:06, Byron Marshall 3 run (Beard kick)

ASU: 2nd, 3:20, Julian Jones 72 pass from Ryan Aplin (Davis kick)

ASU: 3rd, 10:46, Davis 29 FG

ASU: 3rd, 1:53, Josh Jarboe 6 pass from Aplin (Davis kick)

OREGON: 4th, 11:36, Rahsaan Vaughn, 7 pass from Bryan Bennett (Beard kick)

ASU: 4th, 8:48, Carlos McCants 38 pass from Aplin (Davis kick)

ASU: 4th, 4:30, Aplin 1 run (Davis kick)