Oregon’s offense started hot but fizzled out in the second half of their 34-13 win over UCLA on Saturday. After storming to a 28-10 halftime lead, the Ducks managed just six points over the final two quarters, raising concerns about their ability to maintain offensive momentum.
The Ducks didn’t punt once in the first half, but their second-half struggles began immediately, opening the third quarter with two quick punts. Oregon’s offense hit a 22-minute scoring drought stretching from the second quarter to the fourth.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was electric early, throwing for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the first 21 minutes. However, his performance dipped significantly after halftime, recording only 116 yards, one touchdown, and an interception over the final 39 minutes.
The lone bright spot in the second half came when Gabriel connected with Tez Johnson on a laser to the back of the end zone to extend the lead to 34-13. However, kicker Atticus Sappington missed the extra point wide right, reflecting the overall lackluster second-half performance.
Oregon’s defense remained strong, limiting UCLA to just three second-half points, and the Ducks eventually brought in backup quarterback Austin Novosad to close out the game. Still, the offensive slowdown raised questions about their ability to maintain focus and efficiency late in games.
The second half marked Oregon’s lowest-scoring half of the season, a stat they’ll hope to improve as they prepare for their next challenge. The Ducks will face Michigan State at home on Friday, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. PST.
