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It's hard to say whether Oregon's Darron Thomas was just messing with reporters when he insisted he wasn't aware that he had thrown six touchdowns against Nevada. Maybe he was just trying to make the Wolf Pack feel better.
Either way, his broad smile when he said "I really didn't know," seemed to belie his words. And when asked if he'd ever had five, he didn't hesitate to recall that he'd that many against New Mexico last year.
Thomas completed 13 of 19 passes for 295 yards and those six TDS in Oregon's 69-20 victory over Nevada on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks collectively sending the message that the season-opening loss to LSU was not going to define them.
The junior quarterback set a school record with five touchdown passes in the first half alone. His six for the game matched record marks set twice by Joey Harrington and once by Danny O'Neil.
"Just came out and did my thing," Thomas shrugged.
Big things were expected of Thomas going into the season after he helped guide the Ducks to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the BCS championship game last season. Then came the 40-27 loss to the Tigers at Cowboys Stadium in the opener.
The loss dropped the Ducks from their No. 3 preseason ranking to No. 13. The victory against the Wolf Pack moved Oregon up a spot to No. 12 in the AP Top 25 released Sunday.
Thomas said he worked hard in the week between games to address Oregon's critics.
"I knew everybody was looking to see how we'd bounce back," he said.
Of special concern? Making sure he got the ball to his receivers. On Saturday, he found them, including true freshman De'Anthony Thomas.
De'Anthony Thomas, no relation, made just two catches for 93 yards, but both were for touchdowns: a 24 yarder just before halftime and a 69-yard strike in the third quarter.
The highly touted running back from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles also ran for 81 yards and helped on kickoff returns for a game-high total of 204 all-purpose yards.
Like his QB, De'Anthony Thomas was also intent on distancing himself from the season opener, when he ran for a touchdown but had two fumbles.
"I just didn't want to make those mistakes anymore," he said. "I was working hard all week about ball security. So I just had the ball high and tight. Every time I run, just high and tight."
LaMichael James, a Heisman finalist last year who was held to 54 yards rushing by LSU, did a little bit of everything in the victory. He ran for a touchdown, caught a long scoring pass and returned a punt for a score to help the Ducks to their 17th straight home victory.
Darron Thomas spread around his targets. In addition to De'Anthony Thomas and James, Oregon's quarterback also hit Lavasier Tuinei, Rahsaan Vaughn and homegrown true freshman Colt Lyera out of Hillsboro High School with touchdown passes.
"I'm very confident in those guys making the big play," Thomas said. "I just have to get the ball in their hands."
Redshirt freshman Ayele Ford ran for a score and sophomore linebacker Boseko Lokombo returned an interception for a score.
Among the notable absences for the game were running back Kenjon Barner, who hurt his ankle against LSU, receiver Josh Huff, who had nursed a lower leg injury through fall camp but played in the opener, and kicker Rob Beard, who had an unspecified injury.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly reinstated linebacker Kiko Alonso and All-American cornerback and kick returner Cliff Harris for the game. Both had been suspended because of offseason offenses.
Kelly, ever the perfectionist, wasn't completely satisfied. While the victory was decisive, it came against overmatched Nevada, a Western Athletic Conference team in a major rebuilding season. And the Wolf Pack racked up 516 offensive yards.
The Ducks host Missouri State this coming Saturday.
"If we've got 27 guys on Monday with their arms in a sling from patting themselves on the back, we've got a problem," Kelly said.
