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Marcus Mariota, Michael Clay win Fiesta Bowl MVP Awards

Freshman quarterback and senior linebacker crucial to Oregon victory over Kansas State.

Doug Pensinger

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and linebacker Michael Clay have been named the Fiesta Bowl's most valuable players in the wake of the Ducks' win over Kansas State Thursday night. Mariota started by completing just two of his first seven pass attempts, before righting the ship to finish 12 of 24 passing for 166 yards and two scores. Mariota added 62 rushing yards on eight attempts, scoring another touchdown on the ground. Aside from a kickoff return for a touchdown by De'Anthony Thomas to open the game, Mariota had a hand in every Oregon touchdown.

Clay was dominant against the Kansas State rushing attack, holding the Wildcats to 132 yards on the ground. That total was 67 yards below K-State's season average. Clay, a senior playing in his last game for the Ducks, also recorded the only sack of Collin Klein.

Oregon methodically pulled away from Kansas State, winning the game 35-17 to finish their season 12-1 and presumably climb into the second ranking in the season-ending polls. Kansas State finishes its season 11-2.