Oregon football uses dominant first half to beat UCLA

Oregon football quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his completion percentage drop just a bit, but he still threw for three touchdowns in the win over UCLA on Saturday night. It was the first Big Ten matchup for both teams in the new conference after being foes in the Pac-12 for years. The biggest standout performance of the night went to the Oregon defense.

Jordan Burch was a big contributor up the middle, on one drive in particular he was the appetizer, main course, and dessert. It was clearly a meal that Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers wanted no part of.

Oregon won the game, giving up just 10 points. Six of them came off an interception that former Duck Bralon Addison took 96 yards for a touchdown. Oregon won the game 34-13 and the team is now 4-0 on the season.

Tez Johnson saw the ball often and it is clear that Gabriel is forming a special chemistry there, similar to the one that Bo Nix had last season. Johnson, on the night, had 11 touches good for 121 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks ground game was able to continue their recent success as Jordan James and Noah Whittington ran for 124 yards. James also had a touchdown.

One area we will likely see more of in the coming weeks is Gabriel using his legs. Against UCLA, he ran three times for 23 yards.

For the Bruins, Ethan Garbers hobbled by an ankle injury most of the second half pushed through the injury and did his best to get the ball down the field and keep his team in the game. He finished the night completing 12-of-20 passes, throwing two interceptions. The Bruins' ground game was never able to get going with just 47 yards on the night. Garbers accounted for more negative yardage on the ground (-23).

Oregon now returns home on a short week to host a Michigan State team that lost on Saturday to Ohio State. The Ducks and Spartans kickoff Friday evening at Autzen Stadium at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. The game will be broadcast on FOX.