No. 20 Oregon beat No. 12 USC 41-27 on Saturday night in Los Angeles, overcoming the loss of starting quarterback Dante Moore and breaking a fourth-quarter tie with two touchdowns. Dylan Raiola, who came on after Moore left following a targeting hit, completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two scores. Oregon gained 504 yards and finished its Big Ten opener with a win at the Coliseum.
Moore was hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens while sliding in the second quarter. Stephens was ejected for targeting, and Moore was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, according to the Associated Press report published by USC. His condition was not established by the game account. Raiola entered in Moore's place and found Evan Stewart for a touchdown on his second snap, giving the Ducks a critical response in a half that ended with Oregon ahead 13-10.
The game opened up after intermission. Dierre Hill Jr. scored on runs of one and four yards in the third quarter as Oregon built a lead, but USC kept coming. Jayden Maiava and the Trojans moved the ball for 446 total yards, and Maiava finished with 326 passing yards and two touchdowns. Tanook Hines caught an 11-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter that brought USC level at 27-27 with 12:41 remaining. That was the last time the Trojans scored.
Raiola led Oregon's next answer. He connected with Dakorien Moore for a 29-yard touchdown with 8:35 left, putting the Ducks back in front 34-27. USC had a chance to respond but was stopped on downs near midfield. Oregon then used the clock and its running game, and Jordon Davison scored from two yards out with 2:03 remaining to make it a two-touchdown margin. ESPN's play-by-play records the late sequence and the final scoring drive.
The backup quarterback's role is the central turn in this result. Oregon had to change passers during a ranked road game, yet Raiola moved the offense immediately and directed the decisive fourth-quarter possession. The Ducks also produced enough on the ground to support him: Hill's pair of short scoring runs helped create the third-quarter separation, and Davison's run finished the comeback threat.
For USC, the 27-point total included a fourth-quarter equalizer, but the defense could not hold Oregon after the tie and the offense did not score again. Maiava's production kept the Trojans in the game despite an interception, while the Ducks' response after Moore's departure decided it. The ESPN final and box score confirm Oregon's 41-27 win and Raiola's 289-yard relief performance.
September 30 update: Moore remains under evaluation
Dan Lanning said Wednesday that Dante Moore was doing well but remained under evaluation, according to separately authored reports by Logan Brown of Ducks Wire and Jordan Mendoza of USA TODAY. Neither report established a timetable for his return. Brown reported that Moore had returned to Eugene after receiving care in Los Angeles.
Neither report establishes clearance to play or a starting-quarterback decision for Oregon’s next game.
