Title game spawns diary of thoughts

It’s not every day one of my teams plays in a championship game.
Since it seems unlikely it’ll happen any time soon (or ever) for the Cleveland Browns, I decided to document the first College Football Playoff title game with a running diary.

Pre-game
Hung out with Portland’s water department crew as it worked to fix a water main break on Water Street near East Jay Middle School. I’d complain about the cold, but I didn’t have to be in the hole trying to patch three holes. Besides, the only part of the game I missed was the opening kickoff.

First quarter
14:30 — The speed of the Oregon offense is blistering. I can’t imagine trying to defend that.
14:11 — Oregon fumbles, but recovers. That could have been huge.
13:16 — Ball on the ground again. Marcus Mariota this time. After a long conversation, OSU is awarded the ball, but replay instantly shows the Heisman trophy winning QB was down.
12:21 — If the Ducks keep moving the ball like that, it’s going to be a long night. Oregon 7, Ohio State 0.
8:05 — Dropped pass by Oregon is a gift. Ohio State can’t afford to play catch-up against this team.
7:50 — Completion from Cardale Jones to Corey Smith at the very least saved the Buckeyes in terms of field position. Absolutely do not want to give the Ducks a short field.
5:02 — Glad to see Ohio State is playing to win by going for a fourth-and-2. Fortune favors the bold.
4:36 — Ezekiel Elliott shows the team from Ohio can score too. He’s only wearing half a shirt, but he made it the whole way to the end zone. Oregon 7, Ohio State 7.
2:52 — Dwayne Stanford just dropped a pass that would have gone for at least 40 yards. Thank you.
1:08 — Apparently Ohio State knows how to score too. Remember the 59 points the Buckeyes put on Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship game? Ohio State 14, Oregon 7.
0:18 — Ohio State defense comes up with a stop. The quicker it can get the Ducks off the field and longer it can keep them there, the better.
0:00 — This stat from ESPN: Ohio State has forced Oregon to punt three times in the first quarter; Oregon hadn’t done that since 2009.

Second quarter
13:49 — Ohio State offense was rolling. Fumble on handoff could be a momentum changer.
11:10 — Respect the Ducks playing to win too, but Ohio State comes up with an enormous stop on fourth down.
10:20 — Zeke showed up to play tonight. Even if the drive goes nowhere, the Buckeyes at the very least escaped the shadow of the goalposts again.
8:46 — Another Ohio State fumble. Oregon’s defense is keeping it in the game. Who would have thought?
7:40 — The Buckeyes are dominating on third down. Mariota gets sacked. Even the Heisman Trophy winner can’t be effective if he’s on his back.
6:06 — Jones looks like he could throw the ball 100 yards if he really tried. His deep tosses seem effortless.
4:49 — The QB also runs like a Mack truck. Which one of these offenses was supposed to be scary? Ohio State 21, Oregon 7
0:48 — Oregon gets a field goal, but could have used more. Ohio State gets the ball to start the second half and could really take control. Ohio State 21, Oregon 10.

Third quarter
12:11 —Jones can throw. He can run. And he can improvise and leap over tacklers to convert on fourth down. How many Heisman-level quarterbacks does Ohio State have?
11:33 — Ohio State just turned the ball over again. The Buckeyes are keeping Oregon in this game.
11:23 — That didn’t take long. Ohio State 21, Oregon 17.
8:54 — Meyer has guts, that’s for sure. Big fourth-down run by Elliott.
8:21 — Yet another turnover, and this one comes before Jones was even touched. Can’t keep giving the ball away.
6:43 — That should have been a TD. Eli Apple alertly shoved the receiver out of bounds to save Ohio State four points. Ohio State 21, Oregon 20.
1:28 — Jones runs over linebackers like it’s his job. Another scramble for a third-down conversion.
0:00 — Elliott scores to end the quarter. Ezekiel could become a very popular baby name in Ohio. Ohio State 28, Oregon 20.

Fourth quarter
14:06 — Ohio State’s defense comes up with a mammoth stop. If they can score, I’ll feel pretty good.
9:44 — Buckeyes using running game to chew up some clock and score again. Getting touchdowns and not field goals has helped overcome four turnovers. Feeling very good. Ohio State 35, Oregon 20.
7:47 — Oregon might have been trying to pull a fast one in punt situation. Good time out by Ohio State.
2:45 — Mariota throws incomplete on fourth-and-11 deep in his own territory. Game over.
0:28 — Elliott scores again. That’s four TDs and 245 yards. Exclamation point. Ohio State 42, Oregon 20.
0:00 — Great performance by the “No. 4” Buckeyes. Improved from the beginning of the year and proved deserving at the end. Won by 22 despite four turnovers that were mostly unforced. Pretty dominant performance from A to Zeke.