Oregon Rallies Past No. 20 Northwestern 34-26: Dylan Raiola Throws 3 TDs, Dakorien Moore Seals It

Oregon beat No. 20 Northwestern 34-26 on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Our earlier coverage had the Ducks ahead 34-26 late in the fourth quarter, and that’s how it ended. Oregon came back from 20-13 down at halftime, outscored the Wildcats 21-6 after the break and outgained them 289-172 in the second half, according to The Daily Northwestern.

Oregon moved to 5-3 (3-2 Big Ten). Northwestern dropped to 6-2 (3-2).

How Oregon came back

Northwestern scored on its first four drives and led 10-0 in the first quarter. The big play was a 64-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Chiles to a wide-open Griffin Wilde, set up by an unusual formation drawn up by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, Oregon’s head coach from 2009 to 2012. Chiles’ 10th rushing touchdown of the season put the Wildcats up 20-6 late in the second quarter. Dylan Raiola’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Dakorien Moore with 49 seconds left cut it to 20-13 at halftime.

Early in the second half, Braydon Brus took the ball away from Moore, and a Jackson Kleather field goal made it 23-13. After that, Oregon took over:

• Raiola finished a seven-play, 80-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jamari Johnson.
• Freshman running back Brandon Smith scored on fourth-and-goal from the 2 to give Oregon its first lead, 27-23, early in the fourth quarter.
• Kleather’s fourth field goal, a 49-yarder, made it 27-26. Raiola answered with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Moore.
• Kleather missed his only field goal of the day on Northwestern’s next drive. On Oregon’s final possession, Raiola rolled left on third-and-10 and found Johnson for a first down that clinched it, per The Oregonian.

Dylan Raiola and Dakorien Moore

Raiola, making his second straight start with Dante Moore out for the season, completed 22 of 31 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns. The Oregonian’s Bill Oram noted that 214 of those yards and two of the touchdowns came in the second half. He credited interim offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, calling his first game, with seeming to simplify the playbook. Oregon had not scored more than 17 points in any of its previous three games.

Moore caught seven passes for 128 yards and both of his touchdowns, according to Oregon’s box score.

Brandon Smith steps in

Running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill both left in the first half with injuries, and The Oregonian reported Davison was later seen on crutches. Smith filled in with 82 rushing yards, 114 all-purpose yards and the go-ahead touchdown, including runs of 35 and 31 yards. There was no word yet on the long-term status of Davison or Hill.

Aidan Chiles and Northwestern football

Chiles, a former Oregon State quarterback, threw for 281 yards and a touchdown (22 of 38) and ran for a career-high 93 yards. Wilde had five catches for a season-high 146 yards. Kleather made four field goals, two from 37 yards and two from 49, but The Daily Northwestern said the Wildcats settled for field goals too often.

Northwestern sophomore safety Jon Jon Stevens Jr. left early in the second half with an apparent head injury. He stood up after being treated on the field and was carted to the locker room. No update was available.

Kelly is now winless in his returns to Autzen since leaving Oregon, as UCLA’s head coach and as an offensive coordinator at Ohio State and Northwestern, The Oregonian noted.

What’s next

• Oregon: at No. 2 Ohio State next Saturday.
• Northwestern: home against Iowa at Ryan Field on Saturday in a key Big Ten game.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Northwestern vs. Oregon: Ducks Lead No. 20 Wildcats 34-26 Late After Dakorien Moore's 75-Yard TD (Oct 31)