The Ducks of Oregon ended up on the wrong side of history on Monday night.

To summarize in a couple phrases; too much of Ezekiel Elliott, and too much of Cardale Jones.

Despite forcing a noteworthy four turnovers, the Ducks soundly lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes by more than double, 42-20, in the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

At the end of the evening, the Buckeyes' backfield duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Cardale Jones gave the Ducks' defense far more than it could handle. Elliott, the Buckeye's talented tailback, proudly demonstrated his aggressive and powerful running style all night long, gashing Oregon for 246 yards and four touchdowns on thirty-six total carries. It marked his third straight game in which he has surpassed two hundred yards rushing.

His buddy in the backfield, Cardale Jones, put his hulking frame and cannon of an arm to good use in order to keep drives alive all night long. The third-string quarterback stayed true to his recent form and provided the Buckeyes with some key plays on third and fourth down situations to move the chains when it was needed the most. After watching the way he played on Monday night, it's quite hard to believe he actually began the year as Ohio State's third-string quarterback. Jones finished 16 out of 23 for 243 yards and one touchdown through the air, while tacking on thirty-eight yards and another touchdown on the ground.

The Ducks took first blood with an early 7-0 lead after an impressive opening drive that resulted in a Keanon Lowe touchdown pass, but then the Buckeyes would tally and go on to dominate the rest of the first half. The Buckeyes would build a 21-10 lead by halftime, when Elliott already had ninety-eight yards on eleven carries. 

Oregon wasn't about to take this laying down, however. The Ducks put up a fight in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 21-20 after Byron Marshall broke costless for a 70-yard touchdown, but the Ducks would be shut out the rest of the way. With 2:46 left, Marcus Mariota's pass to Charles Nelson was broken up in front of the Ohio State sideline to hammer the final nail in the coffin of Oregon's season.

In what may well have been his final game as a collegiate player, reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mariota finished 24-of-37 for 333 yards and one touchdown through the air. His only interception occurred on his final attempted pass.

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Ryan Fleming
Ryan writes for Garnet & Cocky, which is way better than VAVEL ever will be