By JOHN P. WISEOne Great Season
Michael Dyer's was-he-down-or-not gallop to the Oregon 23-yard line was a huge play late, obviously, but we can't overlook fellow freshman Demetruce McNeal's shoestring tackle to prevent a touchdown by Oregon's Lavasier Tuinei in the third quarter.
BCS Post-Game Wrap-Up
Tuinei, coming off a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the Ducks' final two games, made a great bobble-catch of a Darron Thomas pass over the middle and was rumbling toward the end zone when McNeal tripped him up inside the 5-yard line.
On the previous play, Oregon had just re-claimed some much-needed momentum on a fake punt that set the Ducks up at the Auburn 46-yard line.
And when Tuinei made his highlight-reel grab, it looked like the Pac-10 champs were going to cut into Auburn's 19-11 lead. On the surface, McNeal's play was huge, but after what followed, it was monumental.
Starting at the 3-yard line, Oregon's Kenjon Barner lost three yards. Then Thomas called his own number for a one-yard gain. On 3rd-and-goal from the 5, Barner picked up four yards. And on 4th-and-goal, the stubborn Auburn defense stopped Barner at the 1, allowing the Tigers to take over possession with their eight-point lead intact.
McNeal's tackle was the biggest play of the game.