EUGENE, ORE. — Colorado quarterback Jordan Gehrke wasn’t the only Buffs player to make Saturday’s game at No. 3 Oregon his first start.
CU redshirt freshman safety Ryan Moeller, a walk-on and native Coloradan from Rifle, responded to his opportunity by making a game-best 14 tackles.
“I think Ryan played phenomenal,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “(With) his effort and tenacity, he’s going to be really good.”
Moeller played offense and defense at Rifle High School and is best known for finishing his prep career as one of the state’s all-time leading rushers. CU has lost five safeties to injuries, and Moeller got the call.
“I think this definitely was the best game to get thrown in there,” he said. “The competition level was very high. I just tried to do my job.”
Oregon records fall. Early in the first quarter, Marcus Mariota became the fifth major-college player in history to record 9,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing in a career. By connecting with Charles Nelson for a 14-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, Mariota established a Pac-12 record with 42 touchdowns (32 passing, 10 rushing) in a season.
With 105 yards Saturday, Ducks running back Royce Freeman became the first true freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards.
Raucous Autzen Field. Oregon’s stadium measured up to its reputation, Buffs players said. “It was loud, but we knew it would be loud, so we had some silent (snap) counts,” CU redshirt freshman tailback Phillip Lindsay said. “And we knew it would rain, so we practiced during the week with a wet ball.”
Ducks’ senior day. Oregon seniors were recognized before Saturday’s game — the Ducks’ last one at home. The fifth-year seniors have been part of 57 victories.
Mariota, a fourth-year junior expected to declare for the 2015 NFL draft, did not participate in the ceremony because he has a year of eligibility remaining and that would have “opened a can of worms,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said last week.
Injured Buffs. CU reported two injuries from the game: cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (sprained knee) and guard Gerrad Kough (concussion). Both are listed as “day to day.”
