Dante Moore threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, freshman Dakorien Moore ran for a score and caught a touchdown pass, and No. 6 Oregon routed Oklahoma State 69-3 on Saturday.
The loss was the biggest loss for the Cowboys (1-1) in Mike Gundy’s 20-year tenure as coach, and the biggest losing margin for Oklahoma State in more than a century. The Cowboys have won just one of their last 11 games dating to last season.
Nine players scored for Oregon (2-0), which had 631 yards in total offense. The Ducks had two interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter.
“I get excited when we play to the level we’re capable of playing,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said.
“And you may not realize it looking at it, but there’s still some moments that I certainly want back. We had five penalties in the first half. In the second half we had one — that’s our standard. But it’s fun to win, right?”
On Oregon’s second play of the game, Oregon RB Noah Whittington took off for a 59-yard TD run to give the Ducks a 7-0 lead.
It was the longest run of his career.
Dakorien Moore caught a deep 65-yard pass from Dante Moore on the Ducks’ second drive. Dierre Hill Jr.added a 19-yard touchdown run before Logan Ward kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Cowboys’ only points.
Dante Moore connected with Malik Benson on a 42-yard pass, Dakorien Moore rushed 25 yards for another score, and RB Jayden Limar added a 5-yard TD run to make it 41-3 at halftime.
Oregon WR Gary Bryant Jr. caught an 11-yard touchdown pass, and RB Jordan Davison ran a yard for another score to put the Ducks up 55-3.
Oregon had back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter:
Jerry Mixon scored on a 26-yard return, and Peyton Woodyard scored on a 30-yard return.
“It’s amazing when you look to your left and you see your brother and look to your right and see your brother, who helped push through the workouts with you and made sure that when it comes to game time that you execute,” Dante Moore said after the game.
“So love seeing points on the board, but I feel like the best thing is seeing is seeing everybody smile on the field.”
Oklahoma State starting quarterback Hauss Hejny broke a bone in his foot in the team’s opener, so backup QB Zane Flores, a third-year freshman, made his first career start against Oregon.
Flores finished 7 of 19 for 67 yards and two interceptions.
“We have to be better and fundamentally sound and execute,” Gundy said in his post-game comments.
“That’s really what it comes down to. And then, sometimes you’re going to play people that have the ability to run away from you. We’ve got to look at that and see where we’re at.”
A CLOSER LOOK
With a 59-13 victory over Montana State in the opener, Oregon has outscored its opponents 128-16.
The last time Oklahoma State lost this badly was at Colorado last season, a 52-0 rout.
The 66-point margin of defeat was the largest for Oklahoma State since a 67-0 loss to Oklahoma in 1907.
FINDING HIS GROOVE
Dante Moore says he’s adjusting to his role as Oregon’s starter.
Moore was the backup to Dillon Gabriel last season after transferring to Eugene from UCLA.
Moore pointed to Ducks quarterbacks coach, Will Stein.
“He’s a players’ coach, and as a quarterback, you love those types of coaches” said Moore.
He makes sure I’m comfortable out there. Overall the repetition we get in practice, the way we just do so many plays, and make sure we get extra reps, helps us go out there on game day and execute.”
Up next
Oregon @ Northwestern next Saturday.