Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was forced to leave Saturday night’s game against USC after suffering a frightening injury during the second quarter.
Moore was scrambling for a first down when he began sliding near the USC 13-yard line. As he went to the ground, USC linebacker Desman Stephens delivered a hit to Moore’s head and neck area.
Moore immediately went down and remained on the field as medical personnel rushed to his side.
Moore Taken Off on a Stretcher
The situation quickly became serious as Oregon players gathered around their quarterback.
Moore was eventually placed on a stretcher and taken from the field in a neck brace before being transported to a Los Angeles hospital for further evaluation. Reports from the NBC broadcast indicated that Moore had movement in his extremities while being taken away.
The hit was ruled targeting, and Stephens was ejected from the game following a review.
Oregon Turns to Dylan Raiola
With Moore unable to continue, Oregon turned to backup quarterback Dylan Raiola.
Raiola immediately stepped into a difficult situation and helped the Ducks finish the drive with a touchdown pass to Evan Stewart.
After the touchdown, Raiola held up five fingers in honor of Moore.
Moore’s Season Before the Injury
Moore entered the USC matchup having started the season strongly.
Through Oregon’s first three games, he had thrown for 849 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. He completed 8 of 10 passes for 77 yards before leaving Saturday’s game.
For now, Oregon will await further medical updates before determining Moore’s status moving forward.
The most important thing is Moore’s health as he undergoes additional evaluation following a frightening scene in Los Angeles. Prayers for Dante.
