PASADENA – With the score 18-13 when the third quarter began, Oregon and Florida Sate looked to be headed into the type of back-and-forth battle that its billing had hyped. The first half was defined by both teams responding to each connected punch. No matter what it was – the goal line stand from Oregon, the response to a 12-point deficit from Florida State – the first 30 minutes followed a direction that the premise of the College Football Playoff was predicated on.
Florida State then opened the second half on a march down the field. Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston connected on a pair of downfield passes and the offense entered Oregon territory. On second-and-10 on the Ducks’ 41 yard line, freshman running back Dalvin Cook jetted near the left sideline past the waning arms of Oregon linebacker Derrick Malone. Cook cut up field for what would be a 10-yard run. However, staying with the play, Malone forcefully yanked the ball from him as the two went to the ground.
“He got by me,” Malone said. “But what we pride ourselves on is, it’s fun when you keep running to the ball. So I kept running to the ball and magical things happen when you run to the ball.”
Six plays later, Oregon running back Royce Freeman was breaking free for a touchdown and a quarter later – 0ne in which Oregon’s defense forced four turnovers – the game was all but over.
Did the first turnover forced by Malone serve as a spark?
“A little bit,” the senior linebacker said.
Oregon’s defense, one often scrutinized as the weakness of the team, opened the floodgates on Thursday. It needed a little over 30 minutes to do it. But once Malone forced a turnover, a feeding frenzy followed. One in which everyone wanted to be a part of.
“We compete,” safety Erick Dargan said. “I see Derrick Malone make a play so I want to make a play. We (are) all pushing each other towards greatness.”
Two drives later, Dargan forced a fumble of Cook again. The senior defensive back would also cap the quarter off with an interception.
But the game was over even before Dargan got both hands on a football. On the drive prior to that, Winston, while dancing around the pocket, lost his balance and the ball at the same time. Outside linebacker Tony Washington subsequently picked it up and ran 58 yards for a touchdown.
It was a part of a second half in which Oregon scored 41 points – 34 of which came off turnovers. As Dargan said, the team got caught in the act of “being ourself.”
In doing so, the unit disproved more ramblings that it’s too soft and provided another affirmation about its capability. Despite giving up some edge runs and missing too many tackles, according to Oregon defensive coordinator Don Pellum, the defense held firm throughout the day.
“I think the best thing our kids did was we played better fundament football up front,” Pellum said. “I think we played really well. We got better today.”
As for a statement, this was just one of the many that Malone says the group has made all year. The conversation has followed a path that he already knew what narrative would build up the National Championship.
“I feel like if Ohio State wins (the outside world) is going to say Oregon’s going to win,” Malone said. “If we play Alabama, they’re going to say we’re too small.”
He’s right. Oregon is already listed as a seven-point favorite against an Ohio State team that beat Alabama 42-35. It’ll be a physically oriented offensive attack that gained 281 yards in the Sugar Bowl that Oregon will be up against. A level of doubt about how the Ducks can stack up against an imposing offense like the Buckeyes’ is expected to ensue.
But just as it has taken on the question for an entire season, Malone symbolized how the team continues to conduct itself in the locker room Thursday night.
“No matter what we do, we are going to be doubted,” Malone said. “But it doesn’t matter.”
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise