'He picks things up really well': Jayden Limar becomes unexpected Oregon savior
Limar's second career touchdown guaranteed a rivalry game between the unbeaten.
Lake Stevens (Wash.) football coach Tom Tri had no idea his former player saved the day for the Ducks on Saturday.
You’ll forgive him for missing the game — his Vikings replaced 10 seniors from last year’s defense and face Washington No. 1 Bellevue on Friday. He’s also, jokingly, still a little annoyed that Jayden Limar didn’t end up a Husky.
Still, he knew Oregon won — he just wasn’t aware that his former running back was the one who averted disaster for UO after snatching the football up when Noah Whittington fumbled it an inch short of the end zone.
“Anger first,” is how Oregon coach Dan Lanning described the play. “Anger and then relief when I found out who picked the ball up.”
Limar’s second career touchdown tied the game at 34. The Ducks won 37-34 and are 2-0 heading into this week’s rivalry game with the 2-0 Oregon State Beavers.
Tri just figured I wanted to talk about Limar because he’s only had a few players in his coaching career who left as much of an impact.
Tri tells stories of the time that Limar took an IV before a state playoff game and then went out to rush for 175 yards, and of an older brother who would drive the Vikings all the way down field during his junior year, then ask to be subbed out so his freshman-year brother, Jaysshon, could come in and pick up the touchdown.
You want a locker room speech? Limar could deliver.