Oregon football picked up its third win of the season on Saturday night, beating Stony Brook by 41 points which almost seemed lethargic.
Mario Cristobal got to play three quarterbacks in the win as Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield got some action along with Anthony Brown. The defense also stepped up and played well while Travis Dye was the leading rusher over CJ Verdell.
Which three Ducks earned game balls from their performances against Stony Brook?
3. Dont’e Thornton
Although he had just two catches, I thought Dont’e Thornton took a massive step against Stony Brook and his connection with Ty Thompson was a good sign.
Thornton had a six-yard catch but his other reception was an eye-opening 54-yard catch and run from Thompson. He turned what looked like an intermediate route into a long touchdown with some nice vision and speed.
If he can continue to play this well, he might just find himself pushing for a starting spot by the end of the season. He has strong hands and explosiveness that has Ducks fans buzzing and although the game ball could have gone to someone like Terrance Ferguson, Anthony Brown, Travis Dye, or CJ Verdell, I felt like Thornton was the biggest surprise and a real treat.