The Oregon Ducks remain undefeated with a 31-10 victory over the Michigan State Spartans. After the game, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning evaluated quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s toughness and injury status after a significant hit. Coach Lanning also shared how the Cancer awareness game meant more personally to him and his family.
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks improved their record to 5-0 after this win, aiming to maintain their momentum before facing the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are also 5-0 and ranked No. 3 nationally.
Despite the win, Oregon encountered some offensive struggles, as Gabriel threw two interceptions. However, the Ducks’ running backs shone, with Jordan James contributing 166 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown, while Noah Whittington added 26 yards on 7 attempts. Gabriel also rushed for a touchdown, gaining 22 yards on three carries.
Gabriel took a hard hit in the first quarter but managed to walk off on his own. He returned to the game until backup quarterback Dante Moore took over in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a tough kid; you saw it tonight,” said Coach Lanning about Gabriel. “He had the wind knocked out of him a little, but he was ready to run off the field. I said hang tight so we could prepare our next play call.”
Lanning humorously referred to a classic movie moment, stating, “He probably could’ve run off earlier, but we had a Rod Tidwell moment from Jerry Maguire.”
Here’s what Lanning said about the game:
On Oregon’s run game:
“Playing physical and emphasizing running the ball. We took away some decision-making and just ran it.”
On quarterback Dillon Gabriel:
“(Dillon Gabriel) is a stud. In college football, you face adversity. He faced some today, and we need to adjust. He stepped up tonight.”
On Oregon’s defense:
“Our ability to stop the run. We ran effectively, and they couldn’t. That’s key for our success.”
On the cancer awareness game:
“This night meant more to many of us. While the game is important, there are things bigger than football. Supporting cancer awareness was special.”
On Jordan James:
“I think our offensive staff had a great plan for attacking the run game. Our offensive line blocked well, allowing Jordan to gain extra yards despite first contact.”
On defensive performance:
“That’s our standard. We aim to perform week in and week out. We knew their attack was tough to stop, but once we secured the run game, we made them play differently.”
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