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FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A Ducks rally to win classic Rose Bowl ■ Oregon’s offense sputters much of the game, but Justin Herbert’s third touchdown run in the fourth quarter is decisive Jack Coan’s offense couldn’t capitalize on its whopping advantages in time of posses- sion (38:03-21:57) and total yards (322-204). “There’s a slim chance you could win, but it defi nitely puts you in a tough position when you have self-infl ected penalties, special teams prob- lems, turnovers,” said Taylor, who is likely headed to the NFL. “When you’re playing an elite team like Oregon, a great team like that, they’ll capitalize on those mistakes.” By Greg Beacham AP Sports Writer PASADENA, Calif. — Jus- tin Herbert faked a handoff and went on the run of his life in the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl. Oregon’s 6-foot-6 quarter- back gracefully stiff-armed Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn at the line of scrim- mage. He surged downfi eld, found his blockers and sprint- ed to the green-painted end zone, even absorbing a very late hit from the frustrated Badgers as a reward. The Eugene kid who took over his beloved hometown team during its worst season of this century had just scored the decisive touchdown of the biggest win of his career. A few minutes and a couple of big passes later, the Ducks all celebrated amid confetti and roses at midfi eld after Herbert’s fi nal college game. “I wish it wasn’t over,” Herbert said. “This has been the best four years of my life. I’ve been honored to be a part of this team.” Herbert scored his third rushing touchdown of the 106th Rose Bowl on that thrilling 30-yard run with 7:41 to play Wednesday night, and No. 7 Oregon held off No. 11 Wisconsin 28-27 to win its third straight trip to the Granddaddy of Them All. Herbert passed for just 138 yards without a touchdown, and Oregon (12-2) managed just 204 yards of offense — the fewest by any Rose Bowl team in 40 years. The Ducks still managed to win yet an- other frenetic edition of this venerated bowl game, surviv- ing six lead changes and big special-teams mistakes by both schools. While the offense sput- tered, the Ducks scored 21 points off the Badgers’ four turnovers, including Brady Breeze’s early 31-yard fumble return for a TD off a botched punt. And on the next snap after Breeze forced another fumble in the fourth quarter, Herbert rambled through the Wiscon- sin defense for that 30-yard score in what’s sure to be the signature moment of the four- year starter’s career. “I’m going to be honest with you, we’ve been telling him to run all year,” Oregon linebacker La’Mar Winston Jr. said. “He runs in practice and torches, so I told him, ‘Man, pull that thing and get loose.’ Stiff-arming dudes. Juking dudes. Is he a running back or a quarterback? We Wally Skalij /Los Angeles Times-TNS Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert (10) scores the go-ahead touchdown on a 30-yard run ahead of Wisconsin cor- nerback Faion Hicks in the fourth quarter during the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Wednesday. “I wish it wasn’t over. This has been the best four years of my life. I’ve been honored to be a part of this team.” BIG RETURN Herbert scored his fi rst TD on the Ducks’ drive from the kickoff in 68-degree tempera- tures on another postcard- perfect New Year’s Day in Pasadena, but Cruickshank took the ensuing kick straight down the Oregon sideline for an electrifying score and a rarity in the Rose Bowl. The kickoff return was just the second for a touchdown in Wisconsin’s lengthy bowl his- tory, but just the third in 106 Rose Bowls — and the fi rst in 17 years. BOTCHED PUNT Oregon got a break right — Oregon quarterback after halftime when Wiscon- Justin Herbert sin punter Anthony Lotti caught the snap, but dropped the ball on the ground instead “We knew coming in that of kicking it under pressure. he was athletic,” Sanborn Breeze alertly picked it up said. “We didn’t have good and sprinted for the go-ahead angles and miscommunica- tions. Something we have to score. The Badgers responded be better at in a game like this. It’s not the fi rst game he with a drive capped by Mason Stokke’s 2-yard scoring run, ran with the ball.” and they went up 27-21 on a Three years after coach fi eld goal with 12:09 to play. Mark Helfrich was fi red But Breeze forced another when the Ducks went 4-8 in fumble by Wisconsin’s Danny Herbert’s freshman season, Oregon held on to cap a Pac- Davis with a big hit, and Her- bert took the next snap on his 12 championship campaign with its 12th win in 13 games 30-yard TD run. and the fourth Rose Bowl vic- THE TAKEAWAY tory in school history. • Wisconsin: The Badgers “To realize where we were, will kick themselves for years and where we are now, it’s been a great journey,” Herbert after every missed opportu- said. “For us to stick together nity here. The offense couldn’t fi nish drives, while the through those tough times defense appeared ready for is just a testament to all the guys on the team, and all the everything except Herbert’s elusiveness. They can build hard work we’ve put in.” Wally Skalij /Los Angeles Times-TNS on this resilient season, but Aron Cruickshank re- Oregon safety Brady Breeze breaks up a pass intended for Wisconsin receiver Kend- their Rose Bowl drought turned an early kickoff 95 ric Pryor, right, in the third quarter during the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on yards for a touchdown for the continues. Wednesday. • Oregon: Herbert could Big Ten runner-up Badgers be sorely missed next season, (10-4), but they lost in their both for his all-around don’t know.” back’s long legs to grind out his go-ahead TD, Herbert got fourth consecutive trip to skill set and his incredible Winston’s praise aside, a landmark victory under back to what he normally Pasadena over the last 10 Herbert had only 10 rushing second-year head coach Mario does best: He made a key 12- years, including two losses to poise under pressure. But the Ducks are once again touchdowns in the fi rst 41 Cristobal, Herbert’s third yard throw to Mycah Pittman Oregon. ascendant, with this victory starts of his career. He turned coach in four years. for a fi rst down with 1:51 to Jonathan Taylor rushed punctuating a two-year rise into a big-play ball-carrier Herbert scored on runs play, and his 28-yard throw to for 94 yards and Quintez on Arroyo Seco’s hallowed of 4 and 5 yards in the fi rst Juwan Johnson with 1:03 left Cephus caught seven passes under Cristobal that puts them back on top of the West ground, and Oregon improb- half, stiff-arming Wisconsin allowed the Ducks to run out for 59 yards and a score, Coast and beyond. ably relied on its quarter- defenders on both runs. After the clock. but Wisconsin quarterback Knicks shut down Lillard, hand Blazers 5th straight loss played 6fi seasons. But he was on the bench at the start NEW YORK — The shots of the Knicks’ 14-0 run early were falling. The crowd was in the fourth quarter that roaring. Everything was set broke open the game and sent up for this to be Carmelo the Trail Blazers to their fi fth Anthony’s night. straight loss. Then he sat down to start “Overall, the experience the fourth quarter, and the and just being back today I Knicks had ruined those think is the most important hopes by the time he got back thing,” Anthony said. “The up. loss is something that we’ll Mitchell Robinson made all get to the bottom of. We’ll 11 shots and had 22 points, fi gure it out. It happens. You Julius Randle added 22 have to take your hat off to points and 13 rebounds, and those guys, they played ex- New York spoiled Anthony’s tremely well tonight. The way strong return to Madison that they shot the ball, the Square Garden by beating way that they were locked in, the Portland Trail Blazers they deserved to win tonight.” 117-93 on Wednesday for its Reggie Bullock made two season-high third straight 3-pointers during the spurt victory. and scored 11 points in his Anthony scored 26 points, Knicks debut. He signed with his most since returning to the team during the summer the NBA in November after but hadn’t played because of a year absence, and was a herniated disk. cheered before and during the “It’s just great to be back game at the arena where he out there seeing the ball go By Brian Mahoney AP Basketball Writer through the hoop and playing out there with my team- mates,” Bullock said. “I signed here for a reason, and I knew what the guys that we signed were capable of doing. I’m glad to be out there playing with them.” Damian Lillard was held to 11 points on 5-for-20 shoot- ing after scoring 30 or more in the previous three games. The All-Star guard did have 10 rebounds and eight as- sists, but missed his fi rst six 3-pointers before making his only one of the game. That was on the fi nal shot of the third quarter, cutting New York’s lead to 83-77, and he then joined Anthony on the bench. The Blazers were still down just six after consecutive baskets by CJ McCollum, but Bullock made his two 3s and Frank Nti- likina and Bobby Portis hit one apiece in between. Portis then fi nished the run with two free throws to push the lead to 101-81. Anthony, who shot 4 for 16 in a loss to Phoenix on Monday, and Lillard returned when the lead reached 12 but by then the Knicks were already rolling. “Offensively it was good to see Melo have a game, but as I said at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Melo and Dame were out and that’s kind of when they made their run and it got away from us,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. Anthony was loudly cheered when he was the last Portland player introduced during starting lineups and many times when he had the ball. But the cheers were soon for Robinson, whose high- fl ying performance tied the Knicks record for most makes without a miss. He said he was motivated after his team was beaten badly in practice Tuesday by starting forward Marcus Morris’ squad, who taunted the losers. “I came in the game (tonight) and just dominated and couldn’t do it without them,” Robinson said.
