By Zack Rosenblatt / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
EUGENE, Ore. — When ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last played at Autzen Stadium in 2014, the two best players on the field were freshmen. They played the same position, too: running back.
Few expected the careers of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Nick Wilson and Oregon’s Royce Freeman to play out the way they did over the next three years.
Saturday felt like old times, even if the interceding years haven’t quite reached that level.
Wilson showed burst on an 18-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and looked like his old self when he trucked Oregon’s Tyree Robinson and broke two more tackles near the goal line on his way to a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The latter one evoked memories of a play Wilson had in that 2014 game, an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ victory, when he trucked future NFL corner Ifo Ekpre-Olomu on a touchdown catch.
Wilson has spent the last three years battling injuries and struggling to stay on the field. He’s missed two games this season due to injury.
But in the last two weeks, Wilson has rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries. He led the Wildcats in carries (17) and rushing yards (73) and scored two touchdowns on Saturday.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ rushed for 171 yards as a team.Â
“It’s great having him,†UA quarterback Khalil Tate said. “He’s been in the program for a couple of years. He’s been dealing with a lot of injuries, but he’s starting to come back to himself. It helps a lot.â€
Freeman has similarly struggled the last few seasons. He rushed for a career-low 945 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and was held without a touchdown during a six-game stretch that ended Saturday.
Freeman rushed 135 yards on 19 carries on Saturday, and found the end zone four times.
“I felt like I needed to take it upon myself and do a little bit more,†Freeman said. “It felt good to break through today.â€