Posted on by

Oregon responds to the Ducks’ first shutout since 2012 against Purdue

Oregon responds to the Ducks’ first shutout since 2012 against Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With his team holding a commanding lead in the fourth quarter, Oregon senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher watched from the sideline the entire late Purdue drive that extended to the Ducks’ 23-yard line.

Faced with a chance to record the program’s first shutout in over a decade, the coaches asked Boettcher to restart the game with the button pressed to maintain the shutout.

“The coach said, ‘Hey, get your butt in the game, we can’t give up any points here,'” Boettcher recalled. “It’s huge. It’s definitely a good dynamic to build on any time you get a shutout on defense. It’s huge for the offense and the dynamic of the team.”

The Boilermakers turned around setbacks on that drive and didn’t score in a 35-0 win at Ross-Ade Stadium on Friday night.

It was Oregon’s first shutout since 2012 in a 49-0 win over Arizona.

Purdue managed 301 total yards, including just 93 through the air. The Boilermakers were 4 for 12 on third down and a crucial 0 for 3 on fourth down.

The key was freshman quarterback Ryan Browne, who rushed for over 400 total yards against Illinois last week but only 141 against Oregon. Browne rushed for well over 100 yards last week but was mostly contained by the Duck defense.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning praised his edge rushers, including sophomores Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, who each had a sack.

“They’re front runners,” Lanning said. “They’re what you look for when you’re looking for edge guys. They’re both guys that have done a good job gaining weight and have done a great job with the strength aspect of our program… that’s who they are. “They’re really hard workers and very conscientious. If you have advantages in your defense, many other things can be controlled for you.”

After a thrilling, emotional 32-31 win over Ohio State in Eugene last weekend, the Ducks took care of business in a short week against an opponent known for the odd top-five upset in Purdue.

But faced with the same situations as Oct. 4 against Michigan State, when the first-team defense held the Spartans to no points but the second-team defense allowed 10 points in stoppage time, the second-team defense held its own Friday.

Of course with the help of Boettcher.

“There are a lot of guys on our team who are ready for their moments when called upon,” Lanning said. “We always talk about being the next man up and being ready for the moment and I thought we saw some of that tonight.”

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz.

play

Watch: What Dan Lanning had to say after No. 2 Oregon shut out Purdue

Dan Lanning speaks after the No. 2 Oregon Ducks shut out the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday night in West Lafayette, Indiana.