Oregon Gets An Emotional Win Over USC, 41-27

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Updated 8:35 pm PT

Oregon football traveled to Los Angeles for a game that was likely to set the course for both teams for the rest of the season – for better and for worse. The game result is that Oregon’s season is on track, while USC has some soul searching to do.

USC won the toss and did not defer, but instead chose to take the first possession of the game. They picked up a 20-yard pass for a first down and then at midfield went for it successfully on 4th and 1 at Oregon’s 32-yard line. The Trojans continued to push to the Oregon 11-yard line, where Bear Alexandersacked Jayden Maiava to bring up 4th down. USC attempted a 33-yard field goal and came away with nothing, giving the Ducks the ball on their 15-yard line and a chance to put the first points on the board.

Oregon’s first play burned the Trojan defense with a Jordon Davison 45-yard run down the left side. The Ducks drove readily to the red zone, but stalled on a couple of holding penalties and could not get the touchdown. On the Trojan 12-yard line, Gage Hurych’s 30-yard field goal was good and Oregon drew first blood. Oregon 3, USC 0.

On USC’s second drive, they were only able to get a couple of 1st downs off pass plays, and then completely stalled, forcing a punt from their own 45-yard line, and the Ducks started the last play of the first quarter from their 7-yard line.

Oregon was not able to do anything deep in their own territory. After going three-and-out, the Ducks punted, giving USC great midfield position. Four plays later, Maiava completed a 31-yard pass on 2nd and 10 at the UO 31, and USC pulled ahead. Oregon 3, USC 7.

Oregon got the kickoff and started on their 25. Dante Moore picked up a couple of short passes before completing a 37-yard hurl to Jamari Johnson that put the Ducks just outside of the USC red zone. Two plays later, Moore scrambled on a broken pass play and picked up 10 yards before being knocked out on a targeting penalty by Desman Stephens.

Moore looked seriously injured and had to be carted off the field. Dylan Raiola then took the ball behind center, and after a short Davison run, Raiola delivered a short strike to Evan Stewart for the Ducks’ first touchdown of the game. Oregon 10, USC 7.

After the kickoff, USC moved the ball well but the defense stopped them at the UO 21-yard line. This time, the Trojans completed at 38-yard field goal to tie the game. Oregon 10, USC 10.

Oregon started their next drive from the 23. Raiola completed a 20-yard pass to freshman Messiah Hampton to take the Ducks to midfield. There, the running game was effective enough to convert on 4th and 1 at the USC 42-yard line. Three plays later, a beautiful catch by Jamari Johnson was negated by a holding penalty.

No matter – Oregon took the ball to the USC 4-yard line and then ran three plays to get to the 1-yard line. Facing 4th and 1, Oregon decided on the field goal, knowing that they would have the ball to start the second half up by three points. Oregon 13, USC 10.

The Ducks finished the first half with 234 total yards to 166 for USC. Oregon picked up 5.2 yard per rush with Jordon Davison leading the way with 61 yards on 11 carries. Dante Moore was 8-10 for 77 yards before he went out of the game, and Dylan Raiola was 6-8 for 63 yards and one touchdown. Evan Stewart had 5 receptions for 37 yards and 1 TD, Jerimiah Johnson had 3 receptions for 56 yards, and Messiah Hampton also had 3 receptions for 31 yards. Oregon had four penalties for 45 yards (3 were holding), and USC had 5 penalties for 29 yards.

To begin the second half, the Ducks only needed four plays to shove a touchdown into USC’s throat, highlighted by a 62-yard pass from Raiola to Dierre Hill Jr. Hill took the rock on the next two plays and scored the touchdown. Oregon 20, USC 10.

USC scored on the next drive without very much defense opposition. Jayden Maiava completed passes of 10, 16, and 27 yards, and the Trojans ran it in from the 1-yard line. Oregon 20, USC 17.

Oregon got back to work after a touchback, and Dylan Raiola was on fire. He completed a pass of 34 yards to Jamari Johnson and 28 yards to Dierre Hill, Jr., before Hill ran it in from the USC 4-yard line for Oregon’s next score. Oregon 27, USC 17.

Spotty defense allowed USC to drive the field on their next possession, but faced with a 2nd-and-goal situation they could not get the touchdown, and had to settle for a field goal. Oregon 27, USC 20.

Oregon went three-and-out on their next possession, and punted. USC picked up a first down to get to midfield and end the third quarter.

Starting the fourth quarter, Oregon’s defense seemingly evaporated, as the Trojans drove way too easily into Oregon’s red zone. It took USC seven plays to tie the game, 27-27.

On Oregon’s next drive, the Ducks drove to midfield and appeared to stall at their 40-yard line, but a USC roughing penalty kept the drive alive. A 12-yard toss to Dakorien Moore, and then three plays later Raiola threw a 29-yard strike to Moore to regain the lead. Oregon 34, USC 27.

USC took the kickoff at their 25 and drove to their 49 before turning the ball over on downs, giving the Ducks great midfield position with 7:15 left in the game. Oregon began to pass only when they needed to, relying on the run to burn the clock.

Dierre Hill, Jr., was very effective, and the offensive line did enough to make it stick. After runs of nine and 14 yards, Hill ran a pair of hard-fought two-yarders with the second resulting in the touchdown that put USC to bed, with 2:11 left in the game. Oregon 41, USC 27.

USC started on their 25 and drove to midfield, but turned over possession on downs and Oregon took a knee to run out the clock.

Oregon and USC’s overall stats were fairly close. Oregon ended with 504 total yards to 446 for the Trojans, 138 rushing yards to 120 for USC, and 366 passing yards to 326 for USC.

Dylan Raiola was 19-25 for 289 yards and 2 TDs. Jamari Johnson and Evan Stewartled the way for the Ducks; Johnson had 7 receptions for 119 yards, and Stewart had 7 receptions for 56 yards and 1 TD.

Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. had nearly identical rushing performances. Davison rushed 16 times for 66 yards and one touchdown. Hill ran 16 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. They were the only running backs used in this game.

The Ducks did not return a punt the entire game.

Come back for stats updates and any interviews we can find!

Updated 8:35 pm PT

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