The Oregon Ducks delivered one of the biggest wins of their season Saturday night, defeating No. 12 USC 41-27 in Los Angeles.
The Ducks overcame a frightening injury to starting quarterback Dante Moore and turned to Dylan Raiola, who helped lead Oregon past the Trojans in a major Big Ten showdown.
Dante Moore Leaves With Injury
The biggest concern of the night came in the second quarter when Moore was injured while sliding on a scramble.
USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was ejected after the hit was ruled targeting. Moore was taken from the field on a stretcher and transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Reports later indicated that Moore had movement in his arms and legs.
Oregon’s players rallied around their quarterback and quickly turned their attention back to the game.
Dylan Raiola Steps Up
Raiola entered the game after Moore’s departure and immediately made an impact.
On his first snap, Raiola connected with Evan Stewart for a touchdown. The two then held up five fingers in honor of Moore.
Raiola continued to lead the Oregon offense as the Ducks battled one of the best teams in the country.
Oregon Pulls Away
The Ducks eventually took control of the game and continued adding to their lead.
USC struggled to stop Oregon’s offense in the second half, while the Ducks made several key defensive plays to keep the Trojans from mounting a comeback.
Two fourth-down stops late in the game helped Oregon secure the victory and put the finishing touches on the 41-27 win.
A Huge Win for the Ducks
The victory gives Oregon a major road win over a ranked opponent and moves the Ducks forward in Big Ten play.
More importantly, Oregon showed its ability to overcome adversity after losing its starting quarterback in the middle of the game.
Raiola stepped into a difficult situation and helped lead the Ducks to a statement victory.
Oregon came into Los Angeles facing an undefeated USC team.
The Ducks left with a 41-27 win.
