Retro Game Ball: Mase & the entire Salesi Funa family
Funa clutch Pick-6 sealed Oregon's win at WSU in 2022 Pac-12 opener
PORTLAND, Ore. — A look at Mase Funa's 2023 pre-Draft highlights shows a powerful Edge, equally disruptive in pass rush and stuffing off-tackle runs at the line. Football IQ and a quick first step match Funa’s physicality.
Here at summer headquarters, our favorite Funa game highlight was a moment less defined by power, and more a showcase of quickness and clutch instincts — Funa's game-sealing Pick-6 at WSU in coach Dan Lanning's 2022 Pac-12 debut.
Matter of fact, there's only one aspect of Funa's Oregon career we appreciate more than that Pick-6 at WSU — the Funa family, in particular Salesi Funa and Lavinia Akauola Funa, have been a true pleasure to have around the Oregon FansEdge community since Mase first started making plays for Oregon's defense.
This retro game ball is a small gesture of gratitude from the Oregon FansEdge community to Mase & the entire Salesi Funa family. We won't have to miss you because you're always welcome here — #OnceADuck
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On that September Saturday, Oregon was in Pullman for the 2022 Pac-12 opener and Lanning's first conference game as a head coach.
No. 15 Oregon came from behind to win 44-41 — and it was every bit as close as that score suggests.
WSU had led from the start, and pulled Oregon into deep water late in the game. The Cougars were up 34-22 with 6:42 left to play — Oregon didn't take its first lead until the final 1:21 of the fourth quarter.
1:21 4Q — Oregon 37, WSU 34
After a WSU punt with 2:35 left in the game, Oregon drove 69 yards in five plays — capped by Troy Franklin's 50-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix and a 2-point conversion run by Nix.
1:01 4Q — Oregon 44, WSU 34
After taking a touchback, WSU opened with a Nakia Watson run for six yards to the WSU 31.
On second down, WSU's Cam Ward threw a quick pass to his left — and his body language showed regret as soon as the ball left his hand.
Instead of his trademake Edge rush, Funa was lurking in the flat underneath Ward's receivers. Funa drove on the ball and high-pointed the pass with momentum into his interception return, a short field ahead of him, and no WSU pursuit in reach.
Funa Pick-6 sealed the win
WSU would go on to drive 75 yards in the game's final :54 for the final score — but the Ducks held on.
Oregon scored 22 points in the game's final four minutes, and Funa's Pick-6 was the exclamation point on Oregon's comeback from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit for the 44-41 win.
VIDEO: Watch Mase Funa’s 2022 Pick-6 at WSU
VIDEO: Watch Mase Funa’s 2023 pre-Draft highlights
VIDEO: 2022 Oregon score 22 points in three minutes at WSU
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