2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game

March 2020 Pac-12 Football Championship Game Conference Championship File:Pac-12 Football Championship 2011 logo.jpg December 2 2011 2011 Autzen Stadium Eugene, Oregon University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins 6–6 NR NR NR Rick Neuheisel 7 10 7 7 University of Oregon Oregon Ducks 10–2 8 7 9 Chip Kelly 21 14 14 0 RB LaMichael James, Oregon Oregon by 31 Elijah Kelley Land Clark 59,376 FOX Gus Johnson play-by-playCharles Davis colorTim Brewster sideline Yes The 2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game was played on Friday, December 2, 2011, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon to determine the 2011 football champion of the Pac-12 Conference. The game featured the UCLA Bruins of the South Division against the Oregon Ducks of the North Division. It was the first football conference championship for the Pac-12 Conference, or any of its predecessors.http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/Football/fcg/index.html 2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game August 23, 2011 Pac-12 Conference dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110817190539/http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/Football/fcg/index.html August 17, 2011 The game took place at Oregon's Autzen Stadium, as the Ducks' conference record of 8–1 was better than UCLA's record of 5–4. The Ducks defeated the Bruins 49–31, and would earn a berth in the 2012 Rose Bowl. At the Rose Bowl Game, the Ducks defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 45–38 for the Rose Bowl Championship trophy. UCLA was named South Division Champions and earned a berth in the game even though it only had the second best record in the South Division; while the South Division's best record belonged to USC (7–2), the Trojans were ineligible to participate in the game due to NCAA sanctions.Ted Miller, What do we call UCLA?, ESPN, November 11, 2011 Both Oregon and Stanford finished with identical 8–1 conference records in the North Division; however Oregon defeated Stanford during the season, giving them the berth in the championship game. The three-hour-27-minute game started at 5:20 p.m. PST/6:20 p.m. MST and televised by Fox Sports. Oregon running back LaMichael James was the game MVP. Pregame buildup On November 28, 2011, UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel was fired, but he was allowed to coach in the Championship game. Rick Neuheisel out at UCLA https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/7290938/rick-neuheisel-ucla-bruins-coach-coach-pac-12-title-game ESPN.com 2011-11-28 2011-11-28 Game summary First quarter UCLA received the ball to start the game, but running back Johnathan Franklin fumbled on the game's second play to allow Oregon to score first on a 30-yard by LaMichael James. UCLA then forced a fumble on a reception by Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas, but were unable to capitalize on it. However, quarterback Darron Thomas then threw an interception which was returned by linebacker Patrick Larimore for a 35-yard score. The Ducks came right back to score on a 10-yard run by Darron Thomas and took advantage of Franklin's second fumble late in the quarter to score on a 7-yard reception by tight end Colt Lyerla. Second quarter The Bruins opened the second quarter with a 37-yard strike from Kevin Prince to receiver Nelson Rosario for their second touchdown of the game. The Ducks however added to their lead with a 3-yard touchdown run by James and a 25-yard reception by receiver Daryle Hawkins, which was set up by a fumble UCLA running back Derrick Coleman. With 11 seconds left in the half UCLA was able to drive downfield and make a 44-yard field goal to trail Oregon 35–17. Third quarter The first points of the second half were scored by Prince with a 1-yard run. However, the Ducks continued to pull away, scoring on a 5-yard run by James and a 22-yard touchdown reception by tight end David Paulson on back to back possessions. Fourth quarter Prince was briefly knocked out of the game during the second series of the quarter and was replaced by Richard Brehaut. However Brehaut then threw an interception for the Bruins' fourth turnover of the game. Prince returned to lead the Bruins on the longest scoring drive of the game, which culminated in a 19-yard touchdown reception to Rosario for the game's final score.https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=313362483 UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks Play-by-Play ESPN 2011-12-02 2011-12-02 Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Informationhttps://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=313362483 UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks Tide Box Score ESPN 2011-12-02 2011-12-02 Score Length Time UCLA Oregon 1 13:13 4 plays, 39 yards 1:04 Oregon LaMichael James 30-yard run, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 0 7 7:55 3 plays, 1 yard 0:43 UCLA Patrick Larimore 35-yard interception return, Tyler Gonzalez kick good 7 7 6:29 5 plays, 58 yards 1:26 Oregon Darron Thomas 10-yard run, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 7 14 0:59 8 plays, 52 yards 2:01 Oregon Colt Lyerla 7-yard reception from Darron Thomas, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 7 21 2 12:22 7 plays, 74 yards 3:37 UCLA Nelson Rosario 37-yard reception from Kevin Prince, Tyler Gonzalez kick good 14 21 8:27 10 plays, 73 yards 3:55 Oregon LaMichael James 3–yard run, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 14 28 4:25 4 plays, 32 yards 1:00 Oregon Daryle Hawkins 25-yard reception from Darron Thomas, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 14 35 0:00 1 play, 30 yards 0:11 UCLA Tyler Gonzalez 44–yard field goal 17 35 3 12:10 4 plays, 43 yards 1:28 UCLA Kevin Prince 1–yard run, Tyler Gonzalez kick good 24 35 9:57 6 plays, 46 yards 2:13 Oregon LaMichael James 5–yard run, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 24 42 4:45 5 plays, 86 yards 2:20 Oregon David Paulson 22-yard reception from Darron Thomas, Alejandro Maldonado kick good 24 49 4 1:51 15 plays, 94 yards 5:22 UCLA Nelson Rosario 19-yard reception from Kevin Prince, Tyler Gonzalez kick good 31 49 Final Score 31 49 Game notes Oregon set several marks during the game:http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205341736 Postgame Notebook Oregon Athletic Department 2011-12-02 2011-12-05 Running back LaMichael James became the first player in conference history to rush for 1,500 or more yards three times in a career. He tied LenDale White with second-most career rushing touchdowns in conference history at 52. Quarterback Darron Thomas set a school record for career touchdown passes with 63. He also became the first player in program history to throw for 30 touchdowns in two seasons. The game marked the 82nd consecutive sellout for an Oregon football game at Autzen Stadium, going back to 1999. See also List of Pac-12 Conference football champions References Championship 2011 Category:Oregon Ducks football games Category:UCLA Bruins football games Category:Sports competitions in Eugene, Oregon Category:2011 in sports in Oregon Category:December 2011 sports events in the United States