By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Sabri Haidar-The Mojo Network)
Dante Moore finally got the dry conditions he had been waiting for, and he wasted no time lighting up Autzen Stadium. After battling through wind and rain in his previous two outings, the Oregon quarterback delivered one of the most efficient performances in school history, leading the eighth-ranked Ducks to a 42 to 13 win over Minnesota on Friday night.
Moore completed 27 of 30 attempts for 306 yards and two touchdowns, setting a program record for completion percentage at 90 percent. It was a timely surge for a player gaining traction once again in the Heisman conversation, and it helped Oregon move to 9 and 1 overall and 6 and 1 in the Big Ten. Home games against USC and a road trip to Washington still remain, but Moore’s latest showing reinforced why the Ducks remain firmly in the playoff picture.
Receiver Jeremiah McClellan, who hauled in one of Moore’s touchdown passes with an acrobatic effort, said the night felt like a reward for the quarterback who has pushed through difficult conditions and a thinning receiving corps.
“I am really proud of him,” McClellan said. “All the work he has put in and everything he has had to sacrifice showed up tonight. And it was great to finally have a dry game.”
With several receivers sidelined, Oregon leaned heavily on its tight ends, who responded with one of their best collective efforts of the season. Kenyon Sadiq, Jamari Johnson and Roger Saleapaga combined for fourteen catches, 178 yards and a touchdown. Sadiq, in his return from injury, added yet another highlight with a twisting end-zone grab.
Moore credited his supporting cast for the record-setting night, noting the protection, the run game, and the receivers who turned routine plays into explosive gains. He called the achievement “a blessing” but pointed out that it was impossible without the other ten players on the field.
Even with Moore commanding the spotlight, Oregon’s run game remained as explosive as ever. The Ducks produced four rushing touchdowns, including long scoring runs of 39 yards from Jordon Davison and 40 from Noah Whittington. Davison, a true freshman, finished with two touchdowns and pushed his season total to twelve.
Oregon’s defense was equally dominant, holding Minnesota to 200 total yards and just 62 on the ground. The Golden Gophers averaged only 2.6 yards per carry, while the Ducks countered with an average of 6 yards per rush, another example of Oregon controlling the line of scrimmage.
The Ducks reached the end zone on six of their first seven possessions, excluding a single-play drive to close the half. The lone empty series came on a fumble early in the second quarter, but the rest of the first-half drives produced touchdowns, giving Oregon control before the break.
Davison scored both of his touchdowns in the opening quarter, while Whittington and Sadiq added scores in the second. Minnesota managed two field goals before halftime and opened the third quarter with a touchdown, but Oregon responded with two more scoring drives, including McClellan’s leaping touchdown grab and a rushing score from Jay Harris.
Head coach Dan Lanning praised the offensive staff and offensive coordinator Will Stein for crafting a balanced game plan that forced Minnesota to defend everything from empty formations to three-back sets. He said Oregon’s versatility has made life difficult for defenses throughout the season.
Oregon now turns its attention to Senior Day next weekend against USC. Kickoff time will be finalized in the coming days. After that, the Ducks will close the regular season at Washington, with a possible Big Ten Championship berth still within reach. Oregon remains positioned to make a run at the College Football Playoff, needing only to continue stacking wins as November unfolds.