In Dan Lanning’s first game as head coach of the Oregon Ducks, his team was destroyed by his old employer, the Georgia Bulldogs, in a September matchup that Oregon football lost 49-3.
But at least Lanning and the Oregon football team finished the season with a bowl triumph, defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday night in a thrilling comeback victory of 29-28.
With little over two minutes left in regulation and Oregon football behind by six points, Ducks quarterback Bo Nix produced an eight-play drive that was culminated by a breathless extra point conversion by kicker Cameron Lewis off of a touchdown by Chase Cota.
CLUTCH COTA FOR THE LEAD!@BoNix10 @ccota_ #GoDucks x @HolidayBowlpic.twitter.com/37EtNzamRa
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 29, 2022
Lanning said following the game that Nix had called the touchdown play, according to Rob Moseley of GoDucks.com. Bo Nix, according to Lanning, called the play on Oregon’s decisive touchdown.
Nix said that the entire Oregon football team was eagerly anticipating that call. Nix explained the call by saying, “We feel extremely good about that play. I believe the play was desired by all of the sideline players; I just so happened to express that desire verbally.
While sophomore running back Bucky Irving scorched for 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 runs, Nix, a transfer from the Auburn Tigers, led the Ducks with 205 passing yards and two touchdowns against an interception on 23 of 30 completions.
With the victory, Oregon football finished the 2022 college football season with 10 victories, which is a record for the team dating back to 2019, when Mario Cristobal was still the Ducks’ head coach.
