Lanning slams ‘disgusting’ late hit that sends Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to hospital | College football

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning called out a “disgusting play” that left his starting quarterback, Dante Moore, in the hospital during the Ducks’ 41-27 win over USC.

Moore was carted off the field after a late hit by Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II in the first half of Saturday’s game in Los Angeles. He was able to move his fingers and feet and rotate his arms, and was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center, according to the NBC broadcast. An Oregon spokesperson later said Moore had movement in all of his extremities and was being evaluated.

“He’s recovering, so I’m not going to speak too soon. But he’s moving,” Lanning said after the game. “He has the ability to move. So we continue to evaluate him.”

During the play, Moore broke into a stampede. As he attempted to slide, he was hit in the head by Stephens, who was called for targeting and disqualified from the match.

“It was a disgusting room,” Lanning said. “The energy changed. A lot of guys on the sideline were emotional at that moment, including myself.”

Fights broke out between the players after the hit as Moore lay on the ground, and both teams were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“Seeing him like that shook the whole team,” said Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, who replaced Moore for the rest of the game. “But at the same time, we knew he was our brother and we were going to fight for him.”

Moore was 8 of 10 passing for 77 yards, and Raiola was 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

After Stephens was sent off, he watched the game from the sidelines. “He’s a part of our football team,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said when asked why Stephens was allowed to remain on the sideline. Riley also expressed concern about Moore’s health during his postgame press conference, which Lanning said he appreciated.

Raiola said the incident motivated his team. “The wolf came out and we made sure our prey felt what we had been preparing for all week,” he said.

Moore was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season, throwing for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as the team went 13-2. This season, he is off to a strong start with 849 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns in three games. He was predicted to be a top pick in this year’s NFL draft, but he opted to return to college.