Oregon Ducks Show Illinois Fighting Illini Why They Are #1 Nationwide – Game Highlights
In their top-25 matchup at home on Saturday against the Big Ten Illinois Fighting Illini team with a different style of play, the Oregon Ducks dominated the game, ending with a convincing 38-9 final score.
Oregon Ducks vs Illinois Fighting Illini Game Highlights
By halftime, Dan Lanning’s team had jumped to a 35-3 halftime lead before sending out back-ups in the second half to gain valuable experience. While the offense matched their stellar performance of this season’s games, the defense played what could be their best game of the season. The highlights of the game included:
- Defensive dominance: Although it didn’t match the shutout of the Purdue Boilermakers last week, their numbers were impressive: total 293 yards, 4.4 yards per play, 4.1 yards per rush, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. The conversion rate was 5-for-13 third-down and 0-for-3 fourth-down despite a personal foul against Derrick Harmon on 3rd and 10 in the third quarter that lit Illini’s best drive of the game.
- Noah Whittington, who has been struggling after tearing his ACL in 2023, was back in action taking a handoff in the second quarter, breaking one tackle, and steaming past a single defender to deliver a score. He had 76 yards and two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air
- Ex-Portlander Justius Lowe, reputedly the smartest player on the field, got into the endzone taking a 34-yard deep ball from Dillon Gabriel over the middle in the first quarter.
- Although top-25 matchup’s seldom give freshmen and young players a chance on the field, but because the Ducks took care of business early against Illinois, the younger players got this opportunity. Of these, CB Sione Laulea ran stride-for-stride with Illini QB Luke Altmyer and RB Da’Jaun Riggs rushed for 44 yards on five carries, and scampered up the left side for 24 yards late in the game.
No. 20 Illinois vs No. 1 Oregon: FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
After the game, Dan Lanning the coaches did a good job thoughout the game, and the players executed. He said, “Our guys had a good plan.”