Oregon dominates Montana State in season opener

 

EUGENE — Autzen Stadium got its first look at the 2025 version of the Dan Lanning–built Oregon Ducks on Saturday, and the No. 4 Ducks left little doubt about their championship aspirations, dismantling Montana State 59-13 in the 2025 season opener.

Freshman quarterback Dante Moore made his long-anticipated debut as the starter and delivered with poise, efficiency, and precision, completing 18 of 23 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns while showing command of the offense from the opening series.

“We wanted to come out and set the tone,” Moore said. “Coach Lanning talked all week about establishing our identity early, and I think we did that.”

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First-Half Onslaught

Oregon’s offense wasted no time imposing its will, driving 74 yards in just 3:03 on the opening possession, capped by a 16-yard touchdown run from Jayden Limar. The Ducks’ offensive line — bolstered by a deeper rotation and cleaner technique than a year ago — paved the way for a 253-yard rushing performance and allowed Moore to operate comfortably in the pocket.

After forcing a quick punt on Montana State’s first drive, the Ducks immediately capitalized on short field position. Moore found tight end Kenyon Sadiq for a 20-yard touchdown, his first career scoring pass, pushing Oregon’s lead to 14-0.

From there, the avalanche began. Jordon Davison, a true freshman, scored his first of three touchdowns to make it 24-0, and Noah Whittington added a short touchdown run to extend the advantage to 31-0.

The Ducks’ defense, which spent the offseason answering questions about run containment, stuffed Montana State’s highly regarded rushing attack, holding the Bobcats to 46 rushing yards on 27 carries. Freshman defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington and linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei led the charge up front, combining for 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Montana State managed a late first-half field goal, but Moore responded quickly, connecting with Malik Benson on an 11-yard touchdown to give Oregon a 38-3 halftime lead.

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Second Half: Depth on Display

By the third quarter, the game became a showcase of Oregon’s roster depth. Backup quarterback Austin Novosad entered late in the third and immediately hit Kyler Kasper for a 40-yard strike to set up another Davison touchdown, extending the lead to 52-6.

The Ducks rotated heavily at running back, with six players gaining at least 20 yards led by Noah Whittington with 10 carries for 68 yards and including Dierre Hill Jr. (48 yards), Da’Jaun Riggs (20), and Luke Moga (25).

Montana State scored its lone touchdown with just over two minutes remaining, but by then, Oregon had already emptied its bench.

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Special Teams Swing Momentum

Oregon’s special teams made an early statement, blocking two punts in the first quarter to set up short fields for the offense. Gary Bryant Jr. added 34 punt return yards, and Dierre Hill Jr. sparked the Ducks with a 28-yard kick return, giving Oregon another layer of explosiveness on hidden yardage plays.

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Key Takeaways

1. Dante Moore Looks the Part

Oregon’s new QB1 delivered a polished debut, showing patience in his reads and confidence in attacking downfield. His 78% completion rate and 199.1 passer rating set the tone for a balanced offensive attack.

2. Run Defense Answers Questions

After giving up 478 combined rushing yards in the final two games of 2024, Oregon’s front seven looked transformed. The Ducks limited Montana State to 1.7 yards per carry and just six rushing first downs, thanks to quicker penetration and improved gap discipline.

3. Depth Is a Weapon

From running backs to defensive backs, Oregon showcased its deepest roster yet under Lanning. Ten different players caught passes, 12 different players recorded rushing attempts, and 15 defenders logged at least two tackles.

Key Stat — Rushing Efficiency

Oregon posted a 56% rushing success rate and averaged 6.5 yards per carry, while Montana State managed just 1.7 yards per rush. That gap — plus-4.8 yards per carry — underscores Oregon’s dominance in the trenches.