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Despite the challenging start, Oregon found brief moments of success, such as Gabriel’s completion to tight end Terrence Ferguson. However, miscommunications and missed opportunities continued to plague their gameplay, resulting in their eventual struggles to convert on critical third downs.
Explosive Plays Define the Game
Ohio State swiftly amassed points, leading to a stretch of dominance. Howard continued to spread the field well, completing passes under pressure, and dicing up the Duck's secondary. In one memorable play, he found Smith for an easy touchdown when no one covered him effectively. The confusion exhibited by Oregon’s secondary became evident – lacking coordination and allowing Ohio State's quick-strike offense to thrive.