SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 10, 2011

Redshirt freshman Bryan Bennett replaced injured quarterback Darron Thomas and guided No. 9 Oregon to 20 second-half points as the host Ducks defeated No. 20 Arizona State 41-27 on Saturday.

De’Anthony Thomas rushed for two touchdowns and Kenjon Barner had a career-high 171 rushing yards for the Ducks, who played without star running back LaMichael James (elbow) and lost Thomas to a left knee injury in the opening minute of the third quarter.

Playing without the two standouts didn’t prevent Oregon (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12 North) from defeating Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12 South) for the seventh consecutive time and winning its 20th straight home contest.

Shortly after Darron Thomas departed, Arizona State took a 24-21 lead on Cameron Marshall’s 4-yard scoring run.

Bennett then navigated the Ducks 68 yards on six plays to regain the lead on a 3-yard run by De’Anthony Thomas. On the ensuing drive, Bennett had runs of 36 and 18 yards as Oregon produced a five-play, 88-yard drive capped by Barner’s 5-yard scoring run with 8:01 left in the third quarter.

The Sun Devils led 17-14 late in the first half when Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards to midfield. Three plays later, Darron Thomas hit David Paulson on a 12-yard scoring pass with 28 seconds left.

Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler threw first-half touchdown passes for 20 yards to Gerell Robinson and 25 yards to Mike Willie.

Thomas was 13-of-17 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns before leaving. He also tossed a 28-yard scoring pass to Lavasier Tuinei.