One Timer: Only drama was: run it up or run it out

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In a week where Lane Kiffin made his return to Ole Miss after departing the Rebels before their College Football Playoff run in 2025, an 84-0 scoreline is one of the most talked about games of Week 3.

The Rebels and Tigers stole the headlines on Saturday, but come the weekly review, Oregon beating up on Portland State is drawing the ire of college football fans across the country.

Dan Lanning’s Ducks squad fell to Oklahoma State in Week 2, sparking some fear in the hearts of Oregon fans. It wasn’t close either, the Cowboys outgained Oregon by 270 yards and if not for a pair of Oregon interceptions that helped the Ducks to 14 points, the game would have been a blowout.

Move to Friday’s game as Oregon welcomed in the Big Sky’s Portland State. From the start the game went down as predicted on paper. Oregon scored early and often to take a commanding 49-0 halftime lead.

Dante Moore threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns — a more fitting performance by the quarterback tabbed by many to be the top draft prospect for 2027 — and Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola added three more scores on an 11-for-11 throwing performance.

The 84 points were the most since 1916 for the Ducks, when they defeated another in-state foe — Willamette University out of Salem — 97-0.

As for Portland State, the Vikings mustered up 103 yards of total offense — 101 coming through the air from quarterback Gabe Downing. Glacier graduate Jackson Presley did not appear for the Vikings.

The ire of the Ducks domination came in the fourth quarter though.

Oregon found themselves with the ball and a 77-0 lead in the final six minutes. Fourth-string quarterback Akili Smith Jr. led a 14-play, 79-yard drive to score one final touchdown with 29 seconds left in the game. Brandon Smith — the fifth Oregon running back in the game — scored from 2 yards out.

Was the touchdown unnecessary? Yes.

Is this the sort of thing to get up in arms about in an 84-0 game? Maybe.

The Ducks could have kneeled the game out after the two-minute timeout with a 1st-and-10 at the 14, but Lanning kept the offense running plays.

After the game, he met with Vikings coach Chris Fisk for a quick handshake and both went on their way, seemingly with no ill-will.

This isn’t the first time the Ducks have laid the hammer on PSU; in 2023 Oregon downed the Vikings 81-7. Oregon scored in the closing minutes of that game as well.

Later, Fisk shared that Lanning offered to shorten the second half to 10-minute quarters if Fisk wanted, but he and the Vikings declined.

The Vikings head back to Big Sky play against Weber State Saturday, while the Ducks head to Los Angeles for a Big 10 tilt with USC.

Neither will think about these 60 minutes for the rest of the season, why should anyone else?

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

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