By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dante Moore threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, freshman Dakorien Moore ran for a score and caught a touchdown pass, and No. 6 Oregon routed Oklahoma State 69-3 on Saturday.
The loss was the biggest loss for the Cowboys (1-1) in Mike Gundy’s 20-year tenure as coach, and the biggest losing margin for Oklahoma State in more than a century. The Cowboys have won just one of their last 11 games dating to last season.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning suggested that comments coach Gundy made this week about the financial disparities between the two teams contributed to the Ducks’ win.
“I told our team right before the game that, it never requires extra motivation for an opportunity to go out and kick ass, but it never hurts when somebody pours gasoline on the fire,” Lanning said.
Earlier in the week, Gundy talked about Oregon’s apparent NIL resources, saying the Cowboys spent “around $7 million” on their team over three years while claiming the Ducks had spent close to $40 million last year alone — while admitting that he might be off a few million.
Nine players scored for Oregon (2-0,) which had 631 yards in total offense. The Ducks had two interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter.
On Oregon’s second play of the game, Noah Whittington took off for a 59-yard TD run to give the Ducks a 7-0 lead. It was the longest run of his career.
Dakorien Moore caught a deep 65-yard pass from Dante Moore on the Ducks’ second drive. Dierre Hill Jr. added a 19-yard touchdown run before Logan Ward kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Cowboys’ only points.
Dante Moore hit Malik Benson with a 42-yard pass, Dakorien Moore rushed 25 yards for another score, and Jayden Limar added a 5-yard TD run to make it 41-3 at halftime.
Gary Bryant Jr. caught an 11 yard touchdown pass and Jordon Davison ran a yard for another score to put the Ducks up 55-3.
Oregon had back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter: Jerry Mixon scored on a 26-yard return and Peyton Woodyard scored on a 30-yard return.
Oklahoma State starting quarterback Hauss Hejny broke a bone in his foot in the team’s opener, so Zane Flores, a third-year freshman, made his first career start against Oregon. Flores finished 7 of 19 for 67 yards and two interceptions.
“We have to be better and fundamentally sound and execute,” Gundy said. “That’s really what it comes down to. And then, sometimes you’re going to play people that have the ability to run away from you. We’ve got to look at that and see where we’re at.”
Takeaways
With a 59-13 victory over Montana State in the opener, Oregon has outscored its opponents 128-16.
The last time Oklahoma State lost this bad was at Colorado last season, a 52-0 rout. The 66-point margin of defeat was the largest for Oklahoma State since a 67-0 loss to Oklahoma in 1907.
Up Next
Oklahoma State hosts Tulsa on Sept. 19.
