Dylan Raiola, the quarterback who once suited up for Nebraska, just delivered a comeback for Oregon that saved their season, capping it all with a game-winning strike to Jamari Johnson with only 28 seconds left on the clock. This wasn’t just a win, it was a gut punch to his former team, pulling out a 17-14 victory for the Ducks on Saturday after being benched earlier in the season.
From the Bench to the Hero’s Chair: Raiola’s Fourth-Quarter Takeover
Oregon was already playing without their starting quarterback, Dante Moore, who’s sidelined with a concussion. Brock Thomas got the nod to start against Nebraska, but things went sideways fast. Thomas struggled, even throwing a pick late in the third quarter, and Nebraska took a 14-6 lead into the final frame. That’s when the Ducks decided they had to make a move. They shifted to Raiola for that crucial fourth quarter, and man, did he respond. The guy who used to be a Cornhusker signal-caller marched his team down the field on his first possession, a 17-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a field goal. Then, on his very next possession, he engineered a monster 20-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that ended with that clutch throw to Johnson in the back of the end zone. “Everyone was dialed in,” Raiola told reporters, reflecting on that final drive. “We just kept preparing until the end and JJ had a cute little toe-drag touchdown to win the game.” Raiola ended the day 11-of-18 for 59 yards, 1 touchdown, and zero picks, while Thomas finished 9-of-20 for 54 yards with no scores and that one interception. Dierre Hill Jr. led Oregon’s rushing with 67 yards on 14 carries, while Johnson pulled in 5 catches for 35 yards and that game-winning score.
A Wild Ride: Raiola’s Rollercoaster Season Continues
This isn’t Raiola’s first time playing hero for the Ducks this season, nor is it his first time getting benched. He originally came in after Moore’s injury in the USC game and absolutely balled out, going 19-of-25 for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The job looked like his to lose until Moore came back. But then, Raiola turned the ball over three times in a tough 17-15 loss to UCLA, leading to him getting benched for Thomas against the Bruins. Thomas actually played pretty well in that game, going 11-of-15 for 156 yards, a touchdown, and no picks. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the 17-6 lead UCLA had built by the fourth quarter. Thomas got the start against Nebraska after that performance, but after Saturday’s heroics, it’s clear Raiola is back under center until Moore is ready to return.
The Ducks have basically zero room for error with two losses already on their resume. A third against Nebraska would have been a massive hit to their College Football Playoff hopes, especially with a brutal stretch of games against Northwestern, Ohio State, and Michigan still on the schedule. But thanks to Raiola, they’re still in the mix. They’ve got those two losses, but they’re still fighting. Next up, they’ve got to keep this momentum going against Northwestern. This team has to stay locked in because the toughest part of their schedule is still ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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