No. 7 Oregon routs Montana State 59-13 in the season opener

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No. 7 Oregon routs Montana State 59-13 in the season opener

2025-08-31 08:30 Last Updated At：08:40

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dante Moore started at quarterback for No. 7 Oregon and threw for 213 yards with three touchdowns, and the Ducks routed FCS power Montana State 59-13 in the opener for both teams Saturday.

It was widely assumed that Moore — Dillon Gabriel's understudy last season — would be the Ducks' quarterback this season but coach Dan Lanning did not publicly name a starter before the first game.

“He was sharp. He knew where to go with the ball, was decisive with reads, was able to make some checks,” Lanning said about Moore. “I thought we had a simple plan and a plan we could execute at a high level. He went out there and executed it really well.”

True freshman Jordon Davison rushed for 26 yards and three touchdowns and Malik Benson caught five passes for 51 yards and a score for the defending Big Ten champion Ducks, who built a 38-3 lead by halftime.

Justin Lamson, who spent the last two seasons at Stanford, threw for 198 yards for Montana State. The defending Big Sky champion Bobcats are trying to replace star quarterback Tommy Mellott after falling to North Dakota State last season in the FCS title game.

Myles Sansted kicked a pair of 42-yard field goals and Adam Jones ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown for the Bobcats. Taco Dowler had a career-high 12 catches for 107 yards.

Oregon went ahead quickly, scoring just 63 seconds into the game on Jayden Limar's 16-yard run down the left edge.

Kenyon Sadiq pushed past a defender on a 20-yard pass from Moore and scored to make it 14-0. Atticus Sappington added a 23-yard field goal in the opening quarter and the rout was on.

Davison rushed for a touchdown from 2 yards out in the second quarter, then added an 8-yard scoring dash in the third before capping his day with a 1-yard TD in the fourth. He became the first true freshman with three rushing touchdowns in an opener in Oregon history.

Even though Montana State went undefeated en route to the loss in the FCS championship game last season, the Bobcats were no match for the heavily favored Ducks. Oregon went undefeated during the regular season last year and bear Penn State to claim the Big Ten Championship. The team's only loss was to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.

Ten receivers had a catch for the Ducks in the game, and all three of Moore's touchdowns were thrown to different receivers.

“As a quarterback, it feels great when other people catch the ball, even as a unit you just feel more connected. Usually a lot of times it could be just one person, two people, catching the ball and other receivers kind of feel left out,” Moore said. “But when you have great guys that can make contested catches, can make plays with the ball in their hands, it's easier for the quarterback to put the ball out there.”

Montana State: Hosts South Dakota State next Saturday.

Oregon: Hosts Oklahoma State next Saturday.

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Eagles' Sirianni and Roseman offer few details on ouster of Patullo and what they want in new OC

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles need a new offensive coordinator.

Ask most fans, commentators — and, privately, some players — and the change from Kevin Patullo was inevitable long before Philadelphia actually made the move this week in the wake of a playoff loss.

There's a “help wanted” sign for the new boss of an offense — one loaded with elite talent such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — that fell way short as the Eagles failed in their bid to win consecutive Super Bowl titles.

Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman were vague on details Thursday about why they waited until the end of the season to make the move — the Eagles ranked 24th in yards per game (311) and 19th in points per game (19.3) — and less clear on what they wanted out of a new coordinator.

“You’re looking to continue to evolve as an offense, and I’m looking to bring in the guy that’s going to best help us do that,” Sirianni said. “I think that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and everybody has different styles, everybody has different players, and there’s many different ways to be successful.”

The Eagles have plenty of credible candidates to choose from — everyone from Josh McCown and Cam Turner to former NFL coaches Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury. The new OC could have complete autonomy to run the offense, though collaboration has been key under Sirianni.

No matter the coordinator, the Eagles expect to be contenders again after playing in two of the last four Super Bowls. Just winning an NFC East title doesn't cut it these days in Philly.

“If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough,” Roseman said. “I know that we’re not going to win the Super Bowl every year. I think I know that from a broad perspective, but I believe we can. I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl.”

Two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson has built a Hall of Fame-level career and won two Super Bowls since the Eagles made him a 2013 first-round pick.

Retirement talk was a hot topic for most of the season.

Johnson turns 36 in May and did not play after Week 11 because of a foot injury. He did not talk to the media this week when the Eagles cleaned out their lockers.

Roseman kept private his conversation with Johnson about retirement. Johnson reworked his contract last May and is signed through 2027.

“You're talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level,” Roseman said.

Brown is likely staying put.

While he isn't shy about airing his grievances, the wide receiver is often worth the distractions because of his production.

Just not this season.

Brown had 78 receptions (down from 106 in 2023) for 1,003 yards (he had 1,496 in 2022) and only five 100-yard games. Of course, some of that dip in production resulted from how he was used in Patullo's offense. The changes ahead are one reason why the Eagles are in no rush to give up on the 28-year star — along with the $43 million dead salary cap hit they'd take if Brown wasn't on the roster.

“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy. I think that would be my answer.”

Special teams coach Michael Clay had a virtual interview Thursday for the same job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sirianni also hasn't ruled out Patullo staying on the staff in a different role.

“I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said.

Patullo could want a fresh start after his house was egged earlier this season and one area indoor golf establishment let fans hit golf balls into a photo of his face after the playoff loss.

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