The Oregon Ducks made a statement in their 34-13 victory over the UCLA Bruins, with quarterback Dillon Gabriel lighting up the field for 280 yards and three touchdowns. But the unsung heroes of the night? That offensive line 🔥. Not a single sack allowed—Gabriel’s jersey stayed spotless while the offense averaged 4.6 yards per carry on the ground, racking up 153 rushing yards.
Finally finding the perfect O-line combo, the Ducks started Josh Conerly Jr., Nishad Strother, Iapani Lalooulu, Marcus Harper, and Ajani Cornelius, and they protected Gabriel all night long. He took full advantage, hitting Tez Johnson for a 52-yard bomb (😎) in the second quarter. Johnson finished with a record 11 catches, 121 yards, and 2 touchdowns. “I just outran them and threw my hand up,” Johnson said like it was just *that* easy.
WHAT A DIME 🎯
Dillon Gabriel to Tez Johnson for the @oregonfootball TD 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Xbvt0to6id
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 29, 2024
Gabriel emphasized the trust he’s built with his wideouts: “Get the ball in their hands, they make plays.” That trust showed with nine different targets catching passes, including Traeshon Holden, who snagged 5 catches for 57 yards and scored in three straight games. 👀
Gabriel’s takeaway? They’re not done improving. “When we didn’t get the ball in our playmakers’ hands, we put ourselves in bad spots. It starts with me.”
Up next: Michigan State Spartans—let’s keep that O-line energy going. 👊
