The Oregon Ducks showed a lot on Saturday Night as the team went into the Coliseum and left with a Top 25 win and an upset according to the rankings of the USC Trojans. Winning the game alone would've been a statement, but the Ducks also came together after their leader, Dante Moore was knocked out of the game on a dirty hit to decide they weren't going to lose this game.
The team could've very easily let the game slip away after such an emotional moment, and it would've been hard to blame them. Instead, Oregon played with a fire and urgency that the fans have been dying to see all season long. USC may have brought the best out of Oregon, and it could be the moment that allows this team to meet their championship hopes.
Dakorien Moore declares USC brought the fire out of Oregon
After the game, Dakorien Moore was asked about the Ducks losing their leader, and he told the media that the team already has plenty of hate for USC, but seeing the type of people they are made the team more violent in this game.
"We already didn’t like (USC), don’t like being here. It changed a bit, seeing the type of people they are from (Dante’s injury), that definitely rose the tension. But we were already thinking foot on they neck. Nothing changed beside us getting more violent."Dakorien Moore
Dakorien Moore could've easily taken the easy way out and not shared that the team upped the intensity, but it's also exactly what you want to hear. Fans always want a team and players that seem to care just as much, if not more, than they do. In the moment, every fan wanted Oregon to take their intensity up a notch after the injury, and the players didn't even need the message to be relayed.
For the increased intensity, Dakorien Moore did his part, catching 3 passes for 42 yards, and what ended up being the game winning touchdown. Throughout the season, Dakorien Moore continues to show that he doesn't need a ton of targets to change the game as he's capable of exploding for a big play at any moment. When Oregon needed it most on Saturday Night, Moore delivered winning on a jump ball from Dylan Raiola to give the Ducks the lead.
Oregon was the more physical team even before Dante Moore left the game, and the constant physicality helped decide the game. The question now is: how can Oregon, moving forward, continue to play with the fire and passion that's needed to go on the road in tough environments and win games? This team may be without Dante Moore for a sustained stretch, and if you aren't going to be at full strength, the rest of the team is going to need to show up.
The bye week comes at the perfect time with Moore's injury, but given how well the team just played, you wish they could play again Tomorrow.
Add us as a preferred source on Google