A clutch kicking performance and an excellent crunch time receiver lead the way on this week’s Oregon Duck’s stock report
Who helped their stock and who hurt their stock after last week’s win at Iowa.
After pulling off a gritty, hard-fought road victory at the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Oregon Ducks are feeling the momentum. With the offense grinding it out in rainy conditions and the defense holding firm under pressure, culminating in Atticus Sappington’s 39-yard field goal with three seconds left to seal the win.Now, as we turn the page, it’s time to take stock: Who among the Ducks rose to the occasion and who still has work to do after that gritty performance?
Malik Benson
The Florida State transfer wasn’t asked to do much against Iowa as the team’s entire passing game was struggling in the bad weather, but when Benson’s number was called upon, he answered. Benson had the play of the game, catching a clutch 24-yard strike down the field from Dante Moore on the team’s final drive to put the Ducks in field goal position. Benson will be asked to step up the rest of the season with the team missing Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr.
Atticus Sappington
Do the Ducks have themselves a kicker? It appears so. Sappington was absolutely on point on Saturday against Iowa, converting three for three field goals, including a game-winning 39-yard attempt. Sappington has had his struggles this year, specifically missing a kick against Indiana in the team’s only loss, but he has been money ever since. The Ducks must feel very confident in Sappington after last week, and as the games get tougher, having a reliable kicker is huge.
Isaiah World
World has been hit or miss at times this season and has found himself on this stock report on both the up and down categories. After Saturday’s game at Iowa, he is certainly deserving to be on the stock up portion of this report. World was outstanding at Iowa, moving defenders and opening up running lanes, while also keeping Moore upright. With right tackle Alex Harkey missing the game with an injury, the Ducks ran most of their plays to the left side behind World, and he delivered with his best overall game as a Duck.
Oregon’s training staff
After a game like that, it’s hard to put any player in the “stock down” section of the report. The team played outstandingly and answered adversity with resilience. There were very few, if any, players who didn’t step up and deliver their best when it was asked of them. So, instead, I will list the Oregon training staff as a stock down. I have never seen a team enter the bye week relatively healthy and come out of it decimated by injuries. Dakorien Moore, Alex Harkey, and Kenyon Sadiq all played and finished the last game vs Wisconsin, but left the bye week unable to play at Iowa. That’s unheard of and will need to be addressed as the season progresses, as the Ducks must figure out a way to heal if they hope to make a playoff run.
