EUGENE, Ore. — No. 2 Oregon had to work much harder than expected in its season opener, but the Ducks found a way to escape Boise State with a 34-27 victory Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
The Broncos controlled much of the first half and took a 17-14 lead into halftime, forcing Oregon to play from behind in front of its home crowd. The Ducks eventually found their rhythm after the break, but Boise State continued answering until a 62-yard touchdown from Dakorien Moore gave Oregon the lead for good with 7:51 remaining.
The win extended Oregon’s home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 39 games and marked the Ducks’ 16th consecutive season-opening victory at Autzen Stadium. It also gave Dan Lanning’s team an early reminder that talent alone won’t eliminate mistakes, as Oregon committed 10 penalties for 90 yards and went 0-for-3 on fourth down.
Boise State Comes Out Swinging
Boise State showed immediately that it wasn’t going to be intimidated by the No. 2 team in the country. Quarterback Maddux Madsen led an 11-play, 75-yard opening drive, finding Cam Bates for a 13-yard touchdown to put the Broncos ahead.
Oregon struggled to respond early, turning the ball over on downs before finally tying the game on Jordon Davison’s 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Broncos regained the lead after an Oregon muffed punt, with Madsen finding Sire Gaines for a 38-yard touchdown on the following play.
A field goal pushed Boise State’s advantage to 17-7, but Oregon managed to make the most of its final possession of the half. With 19 seconds remaining, Dante Moore connected with tight end Jamari Johnson for a 27-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-14 heading into halftime.
Despite the early struggles, Oregon was moving the ball. The problem was finishing drives and avoiding the mistakes that kept Boise State within control of the game.
Moore and the Ducks Answer
Dante Moore settled in during the second half and gave Oregon the production it needed. The senior quarterback finished 28-of-37 for 378 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new career high in passing yards while avoiding an interception.
Oregon tied the game with a third-quarter field goal before finally taking its first lead when Moore found Jeremiah McClellan for an 8-yard touchdown. McClellan was one of Oregon’s biggest offensive weapons throughout the afternoon, finishing with 150 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Boise State refused to fold. Madsen continued making plays and capped an 8-play, 75-yard drive by finding Matt Wagner for a fourth-down touchdown, tying the game at 24 entering the fourth quarter.
The teams traded field goals early in the final period before Oregon finally produced the play that changed the game. Moore found Dakorien Moore, who broke away and took the reception 62 yards for a touchdown, putting the Ducks ahead 34-27 with less than eight minutes to play.
Boise State had one final chance to tie the game, but Oregon’s defense forced a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter to finally put the Broncos away.
A Win With Plenty to Clean Up
Oregon finished with 497 yards of total offense, but the Ducks were far from flawless. Boise State repeatedly made Oregon work for yards and kept the game close despite being held to just 274 total yards.
The Broncos also took advantage of Oregon’s mistakes, particularly on special teams and third and fourth downs. Oregon’s defense eventually came through when it needed to, with linebacker Teitum Tuioti recording a sack and two tackles for loss.
Lanning acknowledged afterward that Boise State won several of the game’s critical situations.
“We didn’t really win the critical situations,” Lanning said. “They won some of those critical situations.”
For Boise State, the loss was a frustrating one, but the Broncos showed they could hang with one of the country’s top teams for four quarters. Madsen threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman Rasean Jones led the team with 76 receiving yards. Travis Anderson finished with a career-high 11 tackles.
The Broncos now move into the rebuilt Pac-12, making Saturday’s performance an encouraging start despite the loss.
Final Takeaway
Oregon got the result it needed, but the Ducks will have plenty to address before their next game. The offense eventually produced nearly 500 yards and Dante Moore looked comfortable once the game opened up, but penalties, missed fourth downs and special teams mistakes nearly turned the season opener into a major upset.
Boise State deserves credit for making Oregon uncomfortable and refusing to let the game get away. The Ducks ultimately had enough firepower to make the difference, with Dante Moore’s arm and Dakorien Moore’s late touchdown providing the decisive moments.
Oregon leaves its opener 1-0, but the road ahead will demand a cleaner performance. The Ducks travel to Oklahoma State next Saturday.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Martin is a freelance photographer with Martin26Photos, specializing in sports and portrait photography. He has made a name for himself in Southern California’s sports photojournalism scene, covering local high school and college events as well as media days. With experience capturing high-profile Division 1 athletics, Martin aims to expand his work to professional sports in the near future.
