Saturday, September 28
Pasadena, Calif.
8:00 PM
University of Oregon
4-0 , 1-0
34
at
13
UCLA
1-3 , 0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Oregon
7
21
0
6
34
UCLA
3
7
3
0
13
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Win Big Ten Debut at UCLA, 34-13
09/28/24 | Football
Oregon improved to 4-0 on the season by winning its debut as members of the Big Ten on Saturday.
PASADENA, Calif. — The Big Ten era of Oregon football is off to a successful start.
Playing for the first time as members of a new conference, the Ducks came off a bye week and improved to 4-0 on the season with a 34-13 victory over UCLA on Saturday before 43,051 fans at the Rose Bowl. Oregon was efficient on offense and disruptive on defense, with the Bruins' only touchdown on the night coming on an interception return.
Dillon Gabriel finished the game 31-of-41 for 280 yards and three touchdowns, about the only blemish on his night the pick-six thrown just before halftime. The Ducks then bounced back from a third-quarter lull by scoring the only points of the fourth quarter to win their Big Ten debut.
"Big game in a lot of ways," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "Still some things for us, areas of growth; obviously, the turnover at the end of half was not a good look. But outside of that, I thought our team played really well."
Tez Johnson caught two of Gabriel's touchdown passes, finishing the night with 11 receptions for 121 yards. Jordan James rushed 20 times for 103 yards, Jordan Burch had two of Oregon's seven tackles for loss and both Bryce Boettcher and Tysheem Johnson snagged interceptions.
The Ducks now return home to face Michigan State on a short week, with the Spartans coming to Autzen Stadium on Friday (6 p.m., FOX).
Coming off a bye that followed three straight nonconference wins to open the season, Oregon displayed no rust out of the gate Saturday. Gabriel was 7-of-8 for 59 yards on the game's opening drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden.
"I think Dillon had a really positive performance, excluding one play," Lanning said. "I think he's continued to prove to be a really savvy quarterback."
The two teams traded field goals as Oregon led 10-3 early in the second quarter, before Boettcher's interception gave the Ducks possession again deep in UCLA territory. Moments later James rushed for a touchdown, and Oregon's lead was 17-3.
Following a three-and-out by the UO defense that included two tackles for loss by Burch, Gabriel connected with Johnson on a 52-yard touchdown, and Oregon seemed to be in complete control. Atticus Sappington kicked his second field goal of the quarter for a 28-3 lead, and the Ducks forced a punt late in the half.
Oregon drove deep into UCLA territory and had a chance to take a 35-3 lead. Instead, former UO defensive back Bryan Addison returned an interception for a touchdown just before halftime; the Ducks thus had a 28-10 advantage at the break, and then went scoreless in the third quarter as the Bruins closed within 28-13.
The Ducks finished the night with a 433-172 advantage in total yards, and was 9-of-14 on third down while holding UCLA to 1-of-10 on third down. But the pick-six seemed to slow Oregon's momentum just when the game was on the way to becoming a blowout.
"We won in a lot of categories tonight, but I know what we're capable of, too," Lanning said.
UCLA had a chance to make it a one-possession game early in the fourth, when Jabbar Muhammad deflected a pass and Tysheem Johnson picked it off. The Ducks found their offensive rhythm again, and Tez Johnson capped the ensuing drive with his second touchdown catch to provide a welcome cushion.
Nikko Reed finished with six tackles to lead the UO defense, while Kobe Savage and Derrick Harmon finished with five. Harmon also had 1.5 tackles for loss, and Muhammad broke up a pair of passes.
"I thought the defense played their best game yet," Lanning said.
Playing for the first time as members of a new conference, the Ducks came off a bye week and improved to 4-0 on the season with a 34-13 victory over UCLA on Saturday before 43,051 fans at the Rose Bowl. Oregon was efficient on offense and disruptive on defense, with the Bruins' only touchdown on the night coming on an interception return.
Dillon Gabriel finished the game 31-of-41 for 280 yards and three touchdowns, about the only blemish on his night the pick-six thrown just before halftime. The Ducks then bounced back from a third-quarter lull by scoring the only points of the fourth quarter to win their Big Ten debut.
"Big game in a lot of ways," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "Still some things for us, areas of growth; obviously, the turnover at the end of half was not a good look. But outside of that, I thought our team played really well."
Tez Johnson caught two of Gabriel's touchdown passes, finishing the night with 11 receptions for 121 yards. Jordan James rushed 20 times for 103 yards, Jordan Burch had two of Oregon's seven tackles for loss and both Bryce Boettcher and Tysheem Johnson snagged interceptions.
The Ducks now return home to face Michigan State on a short week, with the Spartans coming to Autzen Stadium on Friday (6 p.m., FOX).
Coming off a bye that followed three straight nonconference wins to open the season, Oregon displayed no rust out of the gate Saturday. Gabriel was 7-of-8 for 59 yards on the game's opening drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden.
"I think Dillon had a really positive performance, excluding one play," Lanning said. "I think he's continued to prove to be a really savvy quarterback."
The two teams traded field goals as Oregon led 10-3 early in the second quarter, before Boettcher's interception gave the Ducks possession again deep in UCLA territory. Moments later James rushed for a touchdown, and Oregon's lead was 17-3.
Following a three-and-out by the UO defense that included two tackles for loss by Burch, Gabriel connected with Johnson on a 52-yard touchdown, and Oregon seemed to be in complete control. Atticus Sappington kicked his second field goal of the quarter for a 28-3 lead, and the Ducks forced a punt late in the half.
Oregon drove deep into UCLA territory and had a chance to take a 35-3 lead. Instead, former UO defensive back Bryan Addison returned an interception for a touchdown just before halftime; the Ducks thus had a 28-10 advantage at the break, and then went scoreless in the third quarter as the Bruins closed within 28-13.
The Ducks finished the night with a 433-172 advantage in total yards, and was 9-of-14 on third down while holding UCLA to 1-of-10 on third down. But the pick-six seemed to slow Oregon's momentum just when the game was on the way to becoming a blowout.
"We won in a lot of categories tonight, but I know what we're capable of, too," Lanning said.
UCLA had a chance to make it a one-possession game early in the fourth, when Jabbar Muhammad deflected a pass and Tysheem Johnson picked it off. The Ducks found their offensive rhythm again, and Tez Johnson capped the ensuing drive with his second touchdown catch to provide a welcome cushion.
Nikko Reed finished with six tackles to lead the UO defense, while Kobe Savage and Derrick Harmon finished with five. Harmon also had 1.5 tackles for loss, and Muhammad broke up a pair of passes.
"I thought the defense played their best game yet," Lanning said.
Team Stats
ORE
UCL
Total Yards
431
172
Pass Yards
278
125
Rushing Yards
153
47
Penalty Yards
49
86
1st Downs
27
11
3rd Downs
9
1
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
33:32
26:28
1st Quarter
ORE 7, UCL 0
ORE - Holden,Traeshon 12 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Sappington,Atticus kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:22
ORE 7, UCL 3
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 27 yd field goal 12 plays, 66 yards, TOP 07:04
2nd Quarter
ORE 10, UCL 3
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 41 yd field goal 7 plays, 49 yards, TOP 02:31
ORE 17, UCL 3
ORE - James,Jordan 2 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 6 plays, 23 yards, TOP 02:25
ORE 25, UCL 3
ORE - Johnson,Tez 52 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Ferguson,Terrance pass) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:49
ORE 28, UCL 3
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 46 yards, TOP 04:33
ORE 28, UCL 10
UCL - Addison,Bryan 96 yd interception (Bhaghani,Mateen kick)
3rd Quarter
ORE 28, UCL 13
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 54 yd field goal 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:23
4th Quarter
ORE 34, UCL 13
ORE - Johnson,Tez 12 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon () 11 plays, 61 yards, TOP 05:23
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
31
TD
3
YDS
278
INT
1
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballWR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
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