If the pundits didn’t consider Oregon Ducks wide receiver Troy Franklin a star before today, the sophomore put an end to that debate with a monster game over UCLA.
It seemed as if every time Franklin touched the ball, it was either for a huge touchdown or an important first down. Oregon bludgeoned the Bruins to the tune of 45-30, and Franklin had a big hand in that.
He wound up with eight receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Franklin’s 49-yard touchdown set the tone in the second quarter after the two teams traded scores. It was a perfect post pattern, and quarterback Bo Nix threw the perfect ball for Franklin to run under.
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But even that catch wasn’t his best.
That came on a second-and-17 play. The 6-foot-3, 178-pounder used every inch he had, and then some, to haul in a pass on the left sideline that looked like was already past him when Franklin snatched the ball out of the air. It’s a play that is bound to be on more than a few highlight reels.
His second touchdown came just before halftime on a 2-yard out route with just six seconds to go. Franklin made it 31-13 at the break and put UCLA on its heels for the entire second half.
He has 35 catches on the season for 561 yards (80 ypg) and five touchdowns.
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