The Oregon Ducks showed why they are the No. 1 team in the nation during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines. After the first 30 minutes of the game, the Ducks already held a 28-10 over the defending National Champions.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel scored two total touchdowns and running back Noah Whittington ran in two more to build up the Ducks' impressive lead.
Halftime in Ann Arbor. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/jGyKdhRZrr
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 2, 2024
" I thought they executed really well," head coach Dan Lanning said at halftime" I thought there was just one drive where they had poor field position."
While Gabriel capped off the first-half offensive dominance by running in the ball for a touchdown, a touchdown pass to Evan Stewart was called back just a few plays earlier. Lineman Marcus Harper II was too far down the field and the TD was reversed due to an ineligible receiver, despite the incredible snag by Stewart.
"He does that in practice all the time," Lanning said about the impressive catch. "He'll get another chance for another one."
The sideline reporter asked Lanning if he thinks the third quarter is Oregon's "Achilles heel" despite the Ducks going 8-0 so far this season.
"I didn't say that," Lanning said simply. "The third quarter is our opportunity."
Gabriel completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 217 yards and one passing touchdown to Stewart in the first quarter. Whittington and Gabriel combined with Jordan James for 87 total rushing yards in the first half.
One name missing from this halftime report is Tez Johnson. The star wide receiver went down with an apparent shoulder injury in the first quarter and returned to the sidelines in street clothes. It was reported that he would not return for the remainder of the game.
The only flaws in Oregon's first-half performance came from a muffed punt return for freshman Ryan Pellum and a missed tackle for linebacker Bryce Boettcher. The Ducks held the Wolverines to just 101 total yards, one touchdown, and one field goal.