Fifth Quarter 2025: Oregon State

 

Oregon didn’t just beat Oregon State; the Ducks imposed their identity after a sluggish opening stretch and won the game where Dan Lanning demanded they win it—up front. “We talked about winning the trenches before this game started,” Lanning said, “and to be able to rush for almost 300 yards and hold them to under 100 rushing… was a big win for us.” The final ledger (41–7, 585–147 in total yards, 36:55 possession) reflects a team that stacked plays, reset focus after early self-inflicted wounds, and leaned into complementary football. Below, unit-by-unit grades, with PFF context and quotes that shaped the afternoon.

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Offense — A-

Why the grade: The Ducks produced 585 yards at 7.6 per play, a 62% rushing success rate (sack-adjusted 6.4 YPC) and 45% overall success. They hit explosive plays (16 for 370 yards), owned first down (6.9 yards per snap), were 4-for-4 in the red zone, and finished with 34 unanswered after 7–7. The demerits: a flat second series, a failed 4th-and-7 at the OSU 39, and stretches where receiver separation waned, forcing Dante Moore to extend with his legs. Penalties (5 for 40) also cramped two drives.

Quarterback & play rhythm: Moore authored the most composed game of his Oregon career: 21-of-31, 305 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT plus 53 rushing yards (career high), repeatedly punishing shell coverage with decisive scrambles. His PFF offensive grade (86.9, team-best) matched the eye test—layered throws (back-shoulder to Dakorien Moore to set up 21–7), rhythm finds (wheel TD to Kenyon Sadiq), and a two-minute drill that flipped the game before halftime. “Use your legs as a weapon,” Lanning tells him; Moore did exactly that: “If I can make a little play, I’m going to go get it done.”

Run game & OL control: The tone was set on snap one (Jayden Limar, 22 yards) and sustained by a deep committee: 46 for 280 (6.1) with Limar (70), Jordon Davison (34, TD), Makhi Hughes (33), Da’Jaun Riggs (31), and Dierre Hill Jr. (27). Oregon won edges and displaced the front on duo and split-zone, then punctured light boxes with QB draw. PFF backed the trench work: Matthew Bedford (73.5), Alex Harkey (73.3), Emmanuel Pregnon (69.0), Iapani Laloulu (68.6) all graded well, reflecting a day of clean fits and consistent displacement—even if there was a “clear drop-off from Pregnon to Bedford” on one series. Lanning on Harkey: “The mindset you want… he wants the dirty work.”

Pass game levers: The Ducks didn’t live on intricate route tags; they didn’t need to. The call sheet skewed base, but the perimeter still produced: Gary Bryant Jr. (3-65-TD, 49-yard strike), Dakorien Moore (3-63-TD), Malik Benson (3-40, crucial sideline conversion), Kenyon Sadiq (4-60-TD) and Jeremiah McClellan (first Autzen TD). Moore on Benson: “Give him a chance in man—he’s going to make a play,” noting an emotional morning for his teammate and the sideline go-ball that turned 7–7 into Oregon’s avalanche.

Key players (offense): Dante Moore, Jayden Limar, Gary Bryant Jr., Dakorien Moore, Malik Benson, Kenyon Sadiq; OL core Bedford, Harkey, Laloulu, Pregnon.

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Defense — A

Why the grade: Oregon allowed 147 total yards (3.1 per play), 80 passing (7-for-22), and 67 rushing (2.6 per carry), with OSU’s first-down rushing held to 19 yards on 19 attempts—a direct response to last week’s early-down emphasis. After the Beavers’ lone scoring drive (13 plays, 64 yards), the Ducks tightened: OSU went 1-for-5 on its next five third downs and finished 4-for-12 overall. Lanning: “We just started playing our brand—get knock-back, get off blocks, finish to the ball.”

Front & fit discipline: Early leaks (two 10+ yard runs on second-and-long) vanished once Oregon settled its run fits and edges. Bear Alexander’s scoop at the OSU 28 snuffed any late cosmetic points; Tionne Gray and Teitum Tuioti supplied steady knock-back; Blake Purchase compressed the pocket even without sacks. PFF had Matayo Uiagalelei atop the board (85.5) with Gray (71.9) and Tuioti (70.1) also strong—consistent with the tape: few clean doubles advanced, and backs met color early.

Linebacker tone & tackling: Bryce Boettcher (10 tackles) set the thermostat—“flow state,” as he called it—particularly on goal line where Oregon forced multiple snaps before OSU finally punched in. Lanning: “Bryce was hungry… this game meant a lot to him.” Jerry Mixon flashed range (PBUs, early third-down denial) and continued his September surge; his PFF line reflected sound play (68.1). The collective pursuit—the “11 hats” metric position coach after position coach preached all week—showed up in OSU’s 28% completion from Maalik Murphy and a day where nothing came easy on first contact.

Coverage & pattern-match: Aside from the one busted coverage, Oregon’s pattern-matching and zone spacing forced tight-window throws and off-platform attempts. Aaron Flowers (74.9) and Dillon Thieneman (69.7) graded well on PFF; perimeter corners limited YAC (OSU’s 7 receptions produced just 80 yards, long of 21). Tuioti: “Relentless and not selfish—whoever makes the play, we all celebrate it.”

Key players (defense): Bryce Boettcher, Jerry Mixon, Matayo Uiagalelei, Tionne Gray, Teitum Tuioti, Dillon Thieneman, Bear Alexander.

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Special Teams — B+

Why the grade: The unit delivered two field goals, a field-flipping punt, a perfectly timed fake, and steady return production; it also flirted with trouble early.

• Hidden yards & momentum: James Ferguson-Reynolds averaged 43.5 with a long of 51 and pinned OSU at the 4, then ripped off a 21-yard fake on 4th-and-medium—exactly when Oregon’s offense needed a spark. Lanning: “He executed a look we thought might be there… and pinned them inside the 10 later. Huge to flip the field.”

• Place-kicking: Atticus Sappington went 2-for-2 (28, 24), clean ball flight and operation.

• Returns & ball security: Gary Bryant Jr. (4 PR for 41, long 18) and Dakorien Moore (2 for 29, long 19) were net positives; however, Bryant twice looked tight fielding early, including the bobble that pinned Oregon inside the 10 at 11:50 of Q2. Credit the unit for stabilizing thereafter.

Key players (special teams): James Ferguson-Reynolds, Atticus Sappington, Gary Bryant Jr., Dakorien Moore, Jerry Mixon (coverage tackle).

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Coaching — A-

Why the grade: The blueprint matched the mouth: “Do your job.” After a choppy first quarter and a disrespect-fueled OSU equalizer, Oregon recalibrated. The Ducks reclaimed first down on defense (19 yards on 19 rushes), leaned on the run to set up shot-play selectivity, and stacked drives around situational mastery: the two-minute TD before half (then a defensive three-and-out and another TD drive) moved the script from 14–7 to out-of-reach. Lanning’s emphasis on stacking plays, not “momentum,” came through in the methodical 11-play, 72-yard TD to open the third and the 11-play, 59-yard clock-drain to end the quarter with points.

• Adjustments: Defensive early-down tweaks (heavier knock-back, cleaner edge fits) and selective pressure forced OSU into a 33% third-down day and 3.1 YPP. Offensively, Will Stein didn’t need a high-octane call sheet; Oregon’s talent and trench edge were sufficient. That said, your note is fair: the mid-third quarter sequencing felt “base” and briefly stale; a couple of flags and a failed red-zone shot call preceded a field goal.

• Aggressiveness & game feel: The first-quarter 4th-and-7 at the OSU 39 was a tone-setter even if it failed—consistent with Lanning’s DNA. The fake punt was excellent game-feel aggressiveness. Keeping Moore for one more fourth-quarter drive (per Lanning’s “>5:00” threshold) to chase a clean finish also fit the week’s “standard” emphasis.

Key leaders (coaching): Dan Lanning (message, adjustments, ST green-light), Tosh Lupoi/defensive staff (fit discipline and pattern-match cleanup), Will Stein (ball control and shot timing, if conservative at times).

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PFF Snapshot (context that matched the film)

• Offense:  

  Dante Moore 86.9 (team-high),  

  Jayden Limar 73.7,  

  Matthew Bedford 73.5, 

  Alex Harkey 73.3,  

  Emmanuel Pregnon 69.0, 

  Iapani Laloulu 68.6.

• Defense:  

  Matayo Uiagalelei 85.5,  

  Aaron Flowers 74.9, 

  Tionne Gray 71.9,  

  Teitum Tuioti 70.1,  

  Blake Purchase & Dillon Thieneman 69.7,  

  Jerry Mixon 68.1.

Those grades mirror what the numbers screamed: Oregon’s lines won handily; the QB was the best player on the field; the defense suffocated first down and eliminated explosives (OSU: just 4 big plays for 64 yards).

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The Bottom Line

This was trench football dressed in Oregon speed. After 7–7, the Ducks outscored the Beavers 34–0, out-gained them 488–83, and permitted 25 rushing yards the rest of the way. “Stack plays,” Lanning says. Oregon stacked a lot of them—and did it with the kind of connected, self-correcting temperament that travels. Next week is the litmus test Lanning acknowledged (“We’ll get a really good gauge when we play Penn State”), but this was the prerequisite: dominate a rival, heal early-down run defense, and let your quarterback’s growth—arm and legs—carry the middle eight.