Oregon Ducks Dominate Minnesota with 42-13 Victory

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Oregon Ducks showcased their prowess on the field with a commanding 42-13 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday night. Quarterback Dante Moore delivered an exceptional performance, completing 27 of 30 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, achieving a remarkable 90% completion rate--a new single-game record for Oregon.

Freshman running back Jordon Davison also made a significant impact, rushing for two touchdowns and accumulating 57 yards on just seven carries. Wide receiver Kenyon Sadiq was another standout, catching eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Moore expressed satisfaction with the passing game, stating that the favorable weather conditions allowed the team to find their rhythm. Previously hindered by adverse weather, the Ducks took full advantage of the clear skies and mild temperatures against Minnesota.

"The run game was effective as always, but it was time to open up the passing attack," Moore remarked. "Our main goal is to win, and we'll do whatever it takes to achieve that."

For Minnesota, the loss continued a troubling trend, as the Golden Gophers remain winless on the road this season. They struggled offensively, managing only 62 rushing yards against a Ducks defense ranked third nationally.

The scoring began swiftly for Oregon, with Moore executing a 23-yard pass to Sadiq, setting up Davison for a 1-yard touchdown run. Following this, Davison extended the lead to 14-0 with a 39-yard touchdown run. Minnesota finally got on the board with a 46-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg early in the second quarter.

Oregon responded with an unusual play where Noah Whittington broke through a crowd and bobbled the ball in the end zone, ultimately being ruled a touchdown after a review, bringing the score to 21-3. Denaburg added another field goal for Minnesota, but Moore connected with Sadiq for a short 3-yard touchdown pass, giving the Ducks a 28-6 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Minnesota managed to score on their opening drive, with quarterback Drake Lindsey throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Javon Tracy. Lindsey concluded the game with 138 passing yards. However, Oregon quickly responded as Moore found Jeremiah McClellan for a 13-yard touchdown, which was confirmed after a review for a toe-in-bounds check, extending the lead to 35-13. The Ducks capped off the scoring with a 12-yard run from Jay Harris early in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Minnesota's running back Darius Taylor made his return after missing the previous game, recording 57 rushing yards on 10 carries and adding four receptions for 40 yards. Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck encouraged his team to learn from the defeat, emphasizing resilience and the importance of moving forward.

The Ducks, who had previously faced a challenging game against No. 20 Iowa under poor conditions, found their rhythm at home and are now set to face a tougher opponent next weekend in the form of USC, currently ranked No. 17 in both the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff rankings.

Looking ahead, Minnesota will travel to face Northwestern next Saturday, while Oregon prepares to host Southern California.