The 5 Oregon Ducks who stepped up to prevent disaster vs. Boise State

Oregon entered the season opener against Boise State as 3-possession favorites, but Boise State has given the Ducks enough scars that everyone knew this could be a battle. Boise State punched Oregon in the mouth early and never relented, giving Dan Lanning a chance to see what his team was truly made of.

The game proved to be a back-and-forth affair until the final whistle, and Oregon had to step up to prevent getting upset at the start of the season. The Ducks won the game in the second half, outscoring Boise State by 10, and 5 Oregon players stepped up to prevent a disaster to start the season.

The 5 players who saved Oregon's high hopes in season opener

Jeremiah McClellan - Wide Receiver

Most of the offseason, it seemed like the battle for WR3 was between Iverson Hooks and Jeremiah McClellan. After the first game of the season, it looks like Jeremiah McClellan is the clear top wide receiver in this offense. McClellan carried the offense when Oregon struggled to get going and gave the Ducks their first lead of the game, finishing with 6 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.

The performance crushed Jeremiah McClellan's previous high of 83 yards against James Madison, and he could've finished with far more. Dante Moore just overthrew McClellan on a deep ball to the end zone, and Evan Stewart underthrew him on a trick play which both would love to have back.

Dakorien Moore - Wide Receiver

For most of the game, Dakorien Moore was quiet, but once he got the ball in his hands with space, magic happened. After Boise State tied the game, Oregon needed just two plays to take a 7-point lead as Dakorien Moore put two Broncos on skates to pick up a 62-yard touchdown, putting the pressure back on Boise State. Moore did head into the tent late in the 4th quarter, which is worth monitoring, but he stepped up in the biggest moment.

Jamari Johnson - Tight End

Minutes before the first half, things started to look bleak for the Oregon Ducks as Boise State held a 17-7 lead. Needing points before the half, Jamari Johnson delivered with a 27 yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 3. While Johnson's 4 catches for 57 yards and a score are impressive, blocks like the one he made on McClellan's big screen often go unnoticed but were critical in this game.

Dante Moore - Quarterback

While the Ducks struggled in a ton of areas, for the most part, Dante Moore lived up to the hype in the season opener. Moore finished the game completing 28 of 36 for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns without a turnover. Having a veteran quarterback in this game was critical, as Dante seemingly kept the offense in it regardless of the momentum.

Gage Hurych - Kicker

You don't always want to leave a game praising the kicker, but Gage Hurych was integral to the Ducks' success on Saturday. Replacing Atticus Sappington, Hurych was perfect as the new starter going 4-for-4 on extra points and 2-2 on field goals, including a 44-yarder in the 4th quarter. In a battle like the one the Ducks found themselves in, you need to be able to trust the kicker, and Hurych rose to the occasion.

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