Each week, as the competition ratchets up a few clicks, the No. 1 Oregon Ducks issue a powerful rebuttal to every Doubting Dave and Handwringing Harry. And with each win, the Ducks burrow further into their rightful perch atop the national rankings like a tick hopelessly embedded in one’s scalp.
This Saturday was no different. In the days before No. 20 Illinois came to Eugene, there was some trepidation amongst some fans and sports pundits that the Ducks might be in for a knock-down, drag-out fight against a rising Top 25 team. Certainly, after an upset over Michigan last week (a win that hasn’t aged well as the Wolverines continue to melt into irrelevance), the Fighting Illini (6-2, 3-2) were hoping to make a statement against the top-ranked Ducks.
Instead, Illinois was treated to a reality check, a spanking akin to Foghorn Leghorn paddling George the hound dog’s rump until swollen and red.
The Ducks (8-0, 5-0) delivered another forceful statement to the college football world after a 38-9 pounding of Illinois. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is quickly ascending Heisman boards, led the charge, completing 18 of 26 passes for 291 yards, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another to move him into second place on the NCAA’s all-time passing and passing touchdowns list (In his 58th career game, Gabriel threw for his 143rd career touchdown pass and all-time 17,100 passing yards).
After the win over No. 20 Illinois, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is now second on the NCAA’s all-time passing and passing touchdowns list. Photo by Craig Strobeck
Behind another stellar performance from Gabriel, the Duck’s offense put on a clinic that made Illinois’ defense look like Pop Warner powder puffs, utterly helpless against Oregon’s relentless attack that found the end zone on five out of its first six drives.
The Ducks started strong, with Gabriel connecting on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson on the opening drive. Johnson caught six passes for 102 yards. On the following drive, Gabriel connected with Justius Lowe for a 34-yard touchdown grab, Lowe’s first career TD for the Ducks. By halftime, the Ducks had scored five touchdowns and amassed 408 yards of offense to lead the Illini, 35-3. Oregon’s only score of the second half was a 44-yard field goal from Andrew Boyle.
Jordan James finished with 83 yards and Noah Whittington, still recovering from last year’s ACL tear, looked his strongest all season with 76 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including 56 rushing yards on seven carries (averaging 8 yards per carry). Whittington impressed fans after literally bowling over an Illinois defender to jog into the end zone. Whittington also had two catches for 20 yards and a two-yard touchdown reception.
Noah Whittington exploded for his strongest performance this season in the Ducks rout of Illinois. Photo by Craig Strobeck
Despite the continued absence of star defensive end Jordan Burch, Oregon’s defense was stifling, smothering the Illini’s offense like a wet blanket and holding them to just 84 total yards in the first half. Tysheem Johnson led the Ducks with 10 tackles and an interception. Bryce Boettcher and Teitum Tuioti finished with one sack apiece and Devon Jackson and Brandon Johnson each had a half-sack. Sione Laulea added an interception for the Ducks’ defense, helping Oregon win the turnover battle with two interceptions.
After racking up 527 total yards and 26 first downs, the Ducks left little room for debate: they’re the kings of the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff and Illinois was merely the latest bumper sticker. Oregon has now won eight straight games for the first time since 2013 and earned its third win over a ranked opponent this season, arguably its most impressive stretch since its national championship run in 2010.
What did we learn? Don’t bet against Vegas oddsmakers when it comes to the Ducks: Oregon covered the point spread (-21.5) for the second straight week. More importantly, we learned that Oregon shows up every week prepared to execute its game plan and closes out its opponents.
Oregon’s defense held Illinois to fewer than 90 total yards in the first half. Photo by Craig Strobeck
And perhaps most important of all, we learned that visored shyster Jedd Fisch and the Washington Dumbskies were no match for Curt Cignetti‘s Indiana Hoosiers, falling in its fourth loss of the season after a 31-17 splattering in Bloomingdale.
What’s the over/under on how long before the good people of Washington state put Fisch in the stocks dressed in sackcloth, allowing angry, hoodwinked fans to throw apples at him? Perhaps there is still more diaper yet to fill in Seattle?
Up next, heads to Michigan for another Big Ten beatdown, I mean, showdown. Enjoy the ride, folks. Who knows how long it will last. Go Ducks!
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Jordan is a lifelong Duck fan currently living in San Diego. Jordan graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, after serving a prestigious fellowship with the Washington State House of Representatives. Upon graduation, he worked as an English language teaching assistant for the Spanish Ministry of Education’s Ambassadorial Program in Monforte de Lemos, Spain. Jordan has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and California, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, local politics, and crime. He is VERY excited to be writing about his beloved Oregon Ducks.