Lanning condemns 'disgusting' late hit that sent Oregon QB Dante Moore to hospital

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning condemned a "disgusting" late hit that left starting quarterback Dante Moore in hospital during the Ducks' 41-27 win over USC in Los Angeles on Saturday, and USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was ejected for the play.

Moore was carted off the field after the late hit by Desman Stephens II in the first half, and the NBC broadcast reported he was able to move his fingers and feet and rotate his arms before being taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center. An Oregon spokesperson later said Moore had movement in all of his extremities and was being evaluated. "He’s in recovery, so I’m ‌not going to speak ‌too soon. But he is moving," Lanning said after ‌the game. "He has the ability to move. So we continue to assess him."

The incident occurred as Moore scrambled and attempted to slide; Stephens hit him in the head and was called for targeting and disqualified from the game. Lanning said: "It was a disgusting play." He added: "The energy changed. A lot of guys on the sideline, they were emotional in ​that moment, including myself."

Fights broke out between players after Moore was struck and lay on the ground, and both teams were penalised 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 that it was our brother, and we were gonna fight for him."

Moore completed 8 of 10 passes for 77 yards before leaving, while Raiola finished 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdown passes. After his ejection Stephens watched the remainder of the game from the sideline; when asked why Stephens was allowed on the sideline USC head coach Lincoln Riley said, "He’s on our football team." Riley also expressed his concern for Moore’s health at his postgame press conference, a sentiment Lanning said he appreciated.

Moore was an All-Big Ten third-team selection last season after throwing for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as his team went 13-2. This season he had 849 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns in three games, and he had been predicted to be a top pick in this year’s NFL draft but chose to return to college.