Dylan Raiola finally got his first real chance to run Oregon’s offense, and he made it count.
The Ducks’ backup quarterback stepped in for the start of the third quarter Friday night against Portland State with Oregon already rolling, and he never looked out of place in the 84-0 win at Autzen Stadium. Raiola completed all 11 of his passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns, giving Oregon exactly the kind of clean, efficient relief it wanted to see.
“It was so much fun,” Raiola said. “My coaches and teammates prepared me so well and I’m just grateful.”
For Raiola, the night carried more weight than a typical mop-up appearance. He had not seen meaningful action in Oregon’s first two nonconference games against Boise State and Oklahoma State, even though the point spreads pointed toward second-half work. He also said his last time on a football field before this season, aside from one play replacing Dante Moore last week at Oklahoma State, came last year when he broke his leg against USC.
“Kind of putting that in perspective to have a whole new change and everything, I’m just blessed to be a part of this program and a part of the win today,” Raiola said.
Moore set the tone long before Raiola entered. The Oregon starter finished 19 of 23 for 280 yards and four touchdowns, and the No. 21 Ducks scored on all seven drives he handled in the first half against the Vikings, who fell to 0-4.
The bigger picture still matters for Oregon, especially with Moore out for an extended period with an injury. The Ducks would rather not need Raiola, but Friday showed why getting him live game reps matters.
“I think it means a lot,” Raiola said. “You have practice reps, but nothing simulates a game. So, just being able to go out there and operate our system and not trying to do anything out of the normal, and success was there when we just did our job, made it easier.”
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Raiola looked good aside from a cadence error, and Moore was quick to praise what he’s seen from his backup.
“Every day at practice, he’s pushing me, I’m pushing him,” Moore said. “He’s someone that’s in the film room with me, tapping my shoulder, showing me this look or what they’re going to do on defense.
And he’s just someone that the stats don’t blow my mind. He does it at practice.
He’s someone that just takes control of the ball. He’s dedicated to his craft, and he’s just a great teammate to be around.”
In Other News...
Oregon's Blowout Clarified One Position Battle Fans Need To Watch
Oregons lopsided win gave the Ducks something every contender wants in October: a chance to get out of the game early and let younger players handle real snaps without the pressure of a tight finish. It also offered a useful look at the depth chart, with Jordon Davison, Kendre Harrison, Messiah Hampton, Dylan Raiola and Nasir Wyatt all turning in encouraging work while the starters got a breather.
The bigger storyline for Oregon may be less about the score and more about how the personnel shuffle settles in the coming weeks. Simeon Prices absence raised a small red flag, and Carl Williams IV now appears to be fighting to keep hold of a starting job after injury and recent adjustments changed the look of the group. For a team with bigger goals ahead, those kinds of battles can matter long after a blowout fades from memory. [Read more 🡒]
Kendre Harrison Concern Just Clouded Oregons Next Big Stretch
Freshman tight end Kendre Harrison gave Oregon a real lift in the win over Portland State, hauling in four catches for 53 yards and a touchdown before his afternoon took a worrying turn in the fourth quarter. For a Ducks offense trying to keep building rhythm, Harrisons emergence added another layer to the passing game and hinted at how quickly he can become part of the weekly plan.
The concern now is what comes next for a position group already stretched thin, with Jamari Johnson also sidelined. If Harrisons issue lingers, Oregon could be forced to lean harder on other options at tight end just as the schedule is about to tighten up, making his status one of the quieter but more important storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has A New Injury Concern On Offense
Jeremiah McClellans day against Portland State took an unexpected turn when the Oregon wide receiver was spotted on the sideline in a walking boot and using crutches after going through warmups with the team. It added another layer of concern for an offense that had already been trying to sort out its passing game after McClellan flashed in the season opener but had a quieter outing the previous week.
Oregon is already working through an injury situation at tight end with Jamari Johnson, so McClellans status only deepens the questions on that side of the ball. The Ducks do at least get an extra day before their next game, which gives the staff and training room a little more time to assess where things stand and how much help the offense will have available. [Read more 🡒]