No. 20 Oregon left Los Angeles with a 41-27 victory over No. 12 USC on Saturday and head coach Dan Lanning’s didn’t hold back in discussing quarterback Dante Moore’s removal from the game after a targeting hit sent him to a hospital.
USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit Moore above the shoulders as the quarterback went into a slide during the second quarter. Officials upheld the targeting call and ejected Stephens, while medical personnel took Moore away by ambulance.
Coach Lanning commented on the play afterward and didn’t sound happy about it.
“It’s a disgusting play,” Lanning said. “We don’t want to see it happen. It’s disappointing that it happened. I’m praying that our player’s healthy, and I’m praying that their player can learn from that situation.”
Lanning said Moore remained in recovery but added the quarterback “has the ability to move.” Per Fox Sports, an Oregon spokesperson confirmed Moore “has movement in all of his extremities.”
Lanning said the Ducks gathered to pray for Moore and “for some composure for ourselves” as coaches worked to prevent retaliation on the field.
“There’s a reason targeting exists in football, and (that play is) as clear as day targeting,” Lanning said. “It’s a shame that that happened to a good player when, in my mind, that certainly could have been avoided.”
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
After clips of USC players celebrating the hit after Moore went down emerged online, Lanning was asked about it and stressed that he hadn’t personally seen any of them.
“If that’s the way somebody else was operating, it’s really disappointing,” Lanning said. “I don’t think you ever see that from our players. I don’t think you ever see that from our coaches.”
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Dylan Raiola replaced Moore and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon beat USC 41-27, moving to 3-1.
