Oregon is 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big Ten after a double overtime victory over No. 3 Penn State in Happy Valley Saturday night. The Ducks took a 17-3 lead with 12:25 to go in the fourth quarter after Dante Moore's eight-yard touchdown pass to true freshman Dierre Hill and an 8-yard touchdown run by true freshman Jordon Davison.
After both teams punched in scores in the first overtime, Moore rolled right and side-armed a completion to Gary Bryant along the right sideline, and Bryant dove into the end zone for 30-24 lead.
The required two-point conversion failed, picked off by Dani Dennis-Sutton spying over the middle. On Penn State's final possession Drew Allar tried to loft a pass in the right flat, but Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman leapt up and snared the football to end the game 30-24.
"We're never out of the fight," Dan Lanning said to the Big Ten Network. "Backs against the wall. They left everything single thing they had on the field tonight. I'm really proud of them."
The Ducks sucked it up in overtime after Penn State tied up the game. They never lost composure and battled, fighting fatigue, a physical opponent and a loud, passionate crowd. They kept their next-play focus throughout, and made big plays in overtime to pull it out.
They got a huge break when Noah Whittington, fighting for yardage near the goal line, was ruled down after a replay review after a costly fumble. Dierre Hill scored one play later. It was as if the ghosts of Zach Ertz, Michael Dyer and Cliff Harris were apologizing, Oregon finally winning a crucial, controversial replay review at a critical moment.
Slow-motion video showed Whittington's knee was down by two blades of grass.
Dante Moore showed tremendous poise and resilience, 29-39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns (the two-point conversion interception doesn't count against his passing stats.)
The Ducks ran for 176 yards, 4.5 a carry while hold PSU to 139 yards on 35 attempts, four yards a carry. They outgained PSU 424-266 and converted 5-7 on fourth down.
It was a gutty team victory and should end the nonsense that Dan Lanning can't win big games. The Ducks have a bye week before hosting current No. 11 Indiana on October 11.
With Penn State, Georgia and LSU losing Saturday Oregon should move into the AP Top Three tomorrow. After throwing for 248 yards and three TDs in a Top 6 road game, Dante Moore should surge in the Heisman odds when they are updated Sunday morning.
Winning a game like this can only increase the team's confidence and trust in each other. They showed incredible focus and poise in Beaver Stadium, at times quieting the crowd to a tense murmur