Oregon vs Nebraska: Raiola rallies Ducks past old team late
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Oregon beat Nebraska 17-14 with a touchdown pass with 28 seconds left.
- Dylan Raiola came off the bench in the fourth quarter and led two scoring drives.
- The win kept Oregon alive in the College Football Playoff race.
Oregon beat Nebraska 17-14 late on Saturday night in Eugene, Oregon. Dylan Raiola threw the winning touchdown pass with 28 seconds left. He did it against his old team, one week after Oregon benched him.
What happened
Nebraska led 14-6 when the fourth quarter started. Oregon had scored only two field goals in the third quarter. The home fans had booed the Ducks in the first half.
Coach Dan Lanning then turned to Dylan Raiola. Raiola had watched the first three quarters from the sideline. He entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter.
His first drive went 17 plays and 69 yards. It ended with a field goal. The score was now 14-9 with 7:18 left.
His second drive went 20 plays and 82 yards. It ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson. Only 28 seconds stayed on the clock.
Raiola finished 11 of 18 passes for 59 yards. The numbers look small. The timing made them huge.
Raiola moved the ball with his arm and legs. The run game woke up after Raiola entered. Oregon had looked stuck for most of the night.
Nebraska had led by seven points at halftime. Kwazi Gilmer caught a touchdown pass with four seconds left in the half. Oregon had only 50 yards of offense in the first half.
A 31-yard pass to Gilmer set up the score. Nebraska's defense kept Oregon quiet for 30 minutes. Oregon punted seven times to start the game.
Oregon cut the gap with two field goals in the third quarter. Anthony Colandrea then scored on a 6-yard run. Nebraska led by eight points.
Colandrea threw one touchdown pass and ran for one more. He made 202 of Nebraska's 242 yards. Gilmer caught six passes for 74 yards and one score.
Colandrea threw an interception in the second quarter. Oregon got the ball at the Nebraska 14-yard line. The Ducks still could not score.
Oregon's punt team pinned Nebraska deep early. Nebraska still found a way to score first. The Huskers led for most of the night.
A 22-yard run by Colandrea started one scoring drive. A 26-yard run by Mozee kept it going. Nebraska went up by eight points.
Nebraska's defense played well for most of the night. It made 11 tackles for loss, a season high. It still could not stop the last two Oregon drives.
Nebraska held Oregon to 242 total yards. The Huskers could not hold the lead. Oregon scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Oregon even tried a Wildcat look, with a non-quarterback taking the snap. It did not work. Raiola was the spark that finally worked.
Why it matters
Raiola played two seasons at Nebraska before this year. He moved to Oregon in the offseason. Beating his old team made the night personal.
One week earlier, Oregon had benched him against UCLA. He had turned the ball over three times in that game. Oregon lost that game by two points.
Brock Thomas started against Nebraska in his place. Thomas threw an interception in the second half. Lanning said the team needed a spark.
Lanning said Thomas had taken care of the ball better in practice. That is why Thomas got the start. The game still called for Raiola in the end.
Starting quarterback Dante Moore missed the game. He left the USC game with a concussion, ESPN reported. Raiola had come in cold in that USC game and helped Oregon win.
Against USC, he went 19 of 25 for 289 yards. He threw two touchdowns and no interceptions. That night showed what he could do.
Thomas went 11 of 15 for 156 yards against UCLA. He threw one touchdown and no interceptions. He played well, but Oregon still lost that game.
Raiola said the game carried emotions for him. He said it was never about Nebraska. It was about Oregon getting back on track.
Raiola said he knew he had to compete this week. He said he would not pout or be miserable. He stayed ready for his moment.
Oregon now holds four wins and two losses. The Ducks have two wins and one loss in Big Ten play. A third loss might have ended their playoff hopes.
Oregon entered the season ranked second in the nation. The Ducks still dream of a title. A third loss may have ended that dream.
The win keeps Oregon in the College Football Playoff race. Hard games against Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan still wait. Lanning called the win gritty and ugly, ESPN reported.
Auburn pulled off its own upset of Georgia on the same day. BYU beat Notre Dame 28-24 in another big game this weekend. Oregon is not among the undefeated teams left in Week 7.
What happens next
Raiola looks set to start until Moore is ready, Bleacher Report noted. Oregon must now face Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan. Each game will test the Ducks.
Oregon will sort out its quarterback spot this week. The Ducks need steady play at the spot. Raiola gave them a reason to trust him.
Nebraska has a week off next. The Huskers then host Washington on October 31 at home. They will try to shake off a painful loss.
Nebraska will use the off week to regroup. The Huskers led for most of the night. They must learn how to finish games.
"Everyone was dialed in," Raiola told reporters. One week after a benching, he may have saved Oregon's season. The Ducks are still alive, and Raiola is the reason why.
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