09/27/26 01:00:00
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09/27 00:58 CDT Oregon QB Dante Moore leaves field in ambulance after late hit.
His Ducks rally for a stirring win
Oregon QB Dante Moore leaves field in ambulance after late hit. His Ducks rally
for a stirring win
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- By the time Dante Moore was placed in an ambulance and
driven up the Coliseum tunnel, the star Oregon quarterback's teammates and
coaches were all profoundly shaken by his injury, angry about how it happened
--- and incensed by Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens'
celebrations of his dangerous hit.
The No. 20 Ducks harnessed that confluence of strong emotion into a 41-27
victory over the 12th-ranked Trojans on Saturday night. Yet their satisfaction
in a season-correcting win was tempered by concern for Moore, along with an
anger that hadn't subsided.
"It's a disgusting play," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. "You don't want to see
it happen."
Lanning didn't give an extensive update on Moore's condition afterward, but he
said Moore "does have the ability to move."
Moore was sliding to complete an 11-yard run to the USC 12 when Stephens came
in low and hit the Ducks' Heisman Trophy candidate in the head and chest with
his shoulder. Moore's helmet snapped back and hit the turf hard, and his hands
soon went up in what appeared to be an involuntary body posture.
Moore's teammates immediately went after Stephens, who either didn't know or
didn't care how seriously Moore was hurt. Both teams received unsportsmanlike
conduct penalties after the prolonged exchange in which coaches pulled players
apart.
"There's a reason targeting exists in football," Lanning said. "That's as clear
as day targeting. It's a shame that that happened to a good player when, in my
mind, that certainly could have been avoided. So it's disappointing that that
would happen, but I thought our players did a great job of resetting, and on
that note, they still played with great violence and energy to make sure they
could take advantage of what happened to their teammate."
Stephens went to the Trojans' locker room, but only after he celebrated the hit
on the field and then had several less-than-somber sideline exchanges with his
teammates, sparking outrage on social media. Stephens, a junior starter from
Clarkston, Michigan, also returned to USC's sideline in the second half.
The Ducks all said the hit and the reaction became motivation to play even
harder in a game that was vital to their championship aspirations in the Big
Ten and the nation.
"It probably changed (the tone) a little bit, just because we already didn't
really like them, don't really like being here," Oregon receiver Dakorien Moore
said. "But I would say it changed a little bit, seeing the type of people they
are from that. Definitely rose attention a little bit, but we was already
thinking foot on their necks, so nothing really changed besides us getting more
and more hyped."
Dante Moore was placed in a neck brace and on a stretcher, which went on a cart
that drove him a few dozen feet to the ambulance. Mere moments after the doors
shut following a 15-minute game delay, play resumed with Dylan Raiola at
quarterback for the Ducks.
Raiola, the former Nebraska starter, seized the moment with a touchdown pass on
his second snap, followed by a series of sustained drives against USC's poor
defense. Raiola went 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns while leading
the Ducks to 504 yards of offense --- 7.4 per play.
"You don't ever want to see someone get hurt, especially with how much (Moore)
means to me, how much he means to this team," Raiola said. "But it was a moment
of connection, and that's one of our pillars. We just latched on, and we knew
it was going to be for him."
Raiola's 2025 season coincidentally ended with a broken leg during the Huskers'
loss to USC.
Moore returned to Oregon for the current season despite the likely possibility
of being a high pick in the NFL draft last April. He announced his decision two
days after Raiola transferred to Eugene from Nebraska, but Raiola stuck with
his decision anyway.
The game was even early in the fourth quarter, but Raiola then led touchdown
drives before and after Oregon's defense stopped USC on downs at midfield. The
Ducks vigorously celebrated a win that straightens out a roller-coaster season
after an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago.
While Lanning complimented USC coach Lincoln Riley for asking after Moore, the
Oregon coach was still fired up after the game, unleashing several verbal shots
at USC.
Lanning first criticized the Trojans' fan base for what he considered subpar
attendance at their first three home games.
"I've watched three of their TV games. I haven't seen a game packed yet, but we
were here (and) it was packed tonight," Lanning said. "I guess when the Ducks
show up, that's how you fill up the Coliseum."
Later, Lanning turned his third straight win over Riley in their parallel
coaching careers into a recruiting pitch.
"Three wins against these guys," Lanning said. "I guess if you're from this
area and you're interested in winning football games, you should go to Oregon.
If you want to go to a Chris Brown concert, you should go here."
___
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