Oregon Ducks Beat Maryland Terrapins, Dillon Gabriel Makes FBS Touchdown History

The No. 1 Oregon Ducks took down the Maryland Terrapins 39-18 at Autzen Stadium, with Dillon Gabriel and Noah Whittington leading the way for the offense. However, several penalties and some odd first half kick returns were a thorn in the Ducks' side.

Nov 9, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) walks off the field after a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

EUGENE - Now 10-0, No.1 Oregon Ducks are still perfect. From a high-flying offense led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Dillon Gabriel, to an impressive hard-hitting defense, the Ducks are on fire. Adding their 10th win against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks are hoping to continue their high level of dominance going in to their final two game stretch. However, there were some flaws in Oregon's seemingly impenetrable armor.

The biggest issue for the Ducks are their unnecessary penalties. Oregon ended the game with 12 penalties costing the team 95 yards, the most penalties they've accrued all season. Pre-snap penalties and false starts on offense hurt momentum for moving the ball and defensively, costly mistakes gave Maryland multiple first down on crucial plays.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel hands off the ball to Oregon running back Noah Whittington as the Oregon Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

However, a shining spot was quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel went 23-34 on passing with 183 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel broke the NCAA career touchdown record in the third quarter, picking up 179 total touchdowns.

“You can't ignore Dillon Gabriel becoming the all-time touchdown leader in the NCAA," Lanning said after the win. "A really special moment, even if he'd be the first to say he doesn’t care. We celebrated that with him tonight, and I'm glad we could."

The punt return felt like an open audition for the Ducks after wide receiver Tez Johnson is out for an undefined amount of time with a right upper body injury. Evan Stewart, Gary Bryant Jr, and Noah Whittington all had chances to field punt returns to varying degrees of success.

On defense, there was a bit to clean up, but a lot to get excited about. Brandon Johnson's 62-yard fumble recovery turned touchdown run is a bright spot. The defense did limit Oregon to 2.7 yards per rush, but with Maryland's history of lacking in the ground game, that isn't a surprise. Three interceptions from the Ducks were also crucial in this latter regular season win.

Check below for a full rundown of the game. The latest updates are at the top.

Nov 9, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James (20) warms up before a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

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Q4 03:45: MJ Morris in at quarterback for the Terps.

OREGON 39, MARYLAND 18

Q4 03:35 OREGON SCORES: Evan Stewart catches a pass from Dillon Gabriel and runs it in for a 17-yard touchdown. Kick is good.

Q4 03:59: Timeout for Oregon.

Q4 04:57: Jestin Jacobs intercepts Billy Edwards Jr. After further review, the call stands.

OREGON 32, MARYLAND 18

Q4 05:47 OREGON SCORES: Atticus Sappington kicks a 20-yard field goal.

Q4 07:45: Tysheem Johnson intercepts the ball and carries it to the Maryland 9 yard line.

Q4 07:53: Billy Edwards Jr.'s pass deflected by Jamaree Caldwell.

Q4 08:15: Deep ball from Gabriel to Terrance Ferguson is incomplete. Nishad Strother called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Q4 08:43: Time-out is called as Maryland's Tommy Akingbesote is helped off the field with and injury.

Q4 10:13: Dillon Gabriel rushes for 19-yards and an Oregon first down.

OREGON 29, MARYLAND 18

Q4 11:27 MARYLAND SCORES: Billy Edwards Jr. passes 3-yards to Octavian Smith Jr. for a Maryland touchdown. Tysheem Johnson called for roughing the passer which will apply to the kick return. Billy Edwards Jr. gets a two point conversion.

Q4 11:33: Brandon Johnson gets a holding penalty giving the Terrapins a first down.

Q4 12:10: Maryland called for intentional grounding penalty.

Q4 14:13: Jordan Burch is helped off the field with a supposed injury.

FOURTH QUARTER

Q3 00:34: Oregon doesn't make it on fourth down. Turns over to Maryland on their 41-yard line.

Q3: Dillon Gabriel has officially broken the NCAA Touchdowns responsible record with 179.

OREGON 29, MARYLAND 10

Q3 07:49 OREGON SCORES: Gernorris Wilson catches a 3-yard touchdown from Dillon Gabriel for a "thicc six". Josh Conerly Jr. scores the two point conversion for a "thicc eight."

Q3 11:15: Pass break-up by Matayo Uiagalelei. Third down Terrapins.

Q3 13:59: Dillon Gabriel rushes for a loss of a yard. Fourth down. Oregon punts. A three and out offensive drive to start the third for Oregon.

THIRD QUARTER

HALFTIME

OREGON 21, MARYLAND 10

Q2 00:24 OREGON SCORES: Terrance Ferguson catches a 9-yard ball from Dillon Gabriel for a touchdown. After further review, the ruling stands. Kick is good. Dillon Gabriel ties NCAA record for most touchdowns responsible.

Q2 00:27: Oregon timeout.

OREGON 14, MARYLAND 10

Q2 03:18 MARYLAND SCORES: Roman Hemby rushes for a 1-yard touchdown. Kick is good.

Q2 03:59: Another pass interference penalty called on Tysheem Johnson. Maryland gets a first down and is in goal range.

Q2 05:33: Derrick Harmon called for a face mask. Maryland gets a first down and 12-yards. Ducks have five penalties so far for 46-yards. Last two penalties resulted in 1st down for Maryland.

Q2 06:20: Tysheem Johnson called for a pass interference play that gets Maryland 9-yards and a first down.

Q2 06:29: Pass break-up by Jamaree Caldwell bringing up third down for the Terrapins.

Q2 08:30: Noah Whittington tackled for a 5-yard loss and Oregon is forced to punt on downs.

Q2 09:20: On a deep ball to Justius Lowe, Dillon Gabriel is side-swiped by a Maryland defender and is slow to get up. He stays in for the next play.

Q2 09:53: Maryland gets a penalty for an illegal snap on their punt return.

Q2 13:01: Derrick Harmon gets a quarterback hurry.

Q2 13:03: Andrew Boyle kicks return is out of bounds. A flag is called and Maryland starts on their own 35-yard line.

OREGON 14, MARYLAND 3

Q2 13:10 OREGON SCORES: Jordan Burch tackles Billy Edwards Jr. of Maryland, while knocking the ball out of his hands. Brandon Johnson recovers the ball off a bounce and runs it 62-yards to the house. After further review, a touchdown is ruled for the Ducks. Kick is good.

SECOND QUARTER

OREGON 7, MARYLAND 3

Q1 02:21 OREGON SCORES: Jordan James rushes for 3-yards for an Oregon touchdown. On the extra point, Nishad Strother called for a false start, kick is redone, and the kick is good.

Q1 03:47: After 10-yard run, Traeshon Holden is down with an injury. He's helped off the field and is walking the sidelines.

Q1: Dave Iuli in for Marcus Harper II at right guard. Get's false start penalty.

Q1 05:40: Jordan James rushes for 0-yards and a facemask penalty is called on Maryland, giving the Ducks 15-yards and a first down.

Q1 08:05: Maryland O-lineman Issac Bunyun limps off the field.

Q1 09:23: After two incomplete throws from Dillon Gabriel, Oregon punts to Maryland.

Q1 10:17: An overshot Maryland kick to Noah Whittington puts the Ducks on their own 25-yard line.

OREGON 0, MARYLAND 3

Q1 10:17 MARYLAND SCORES: Settling for a field goal, Maryland once again gets a false start penalty that puts them back 5-yards. The second kick is good for the Terrapins.

Q1 13:41: After an unsuccessful drive gaining 7 yards, Maryland punts on downs. The punt is redone due to a false start on Maryland. During the second punt, Oregon's Daylen Austin receives a personal foul for roughing the kicker, and Maryland gets the ball back for a first down.

FIRST QUARTER

Maryland wins the coin toss and will receive.

PREGAME

Oregon Ducks debut a "Gladiator" themed hype video re-capping their win against Michigan in the "Big House".

Evan Stewart is taking reps as the punt returner as pregame warmups die down.

Nov 9, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning high-fives fans before a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Tez Johnson is in street clothes and a sling on his right arm. During pregame warmups, the star wide receiver gave a speech to the wide receiver corps. The senior got an upper body injury during the first quarter of Oregon's game against Michigan last week.

Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. is suited up and participating in pregame warmups. Bryant Jr. was teased to be able to get back into play by Dan Lanning earlier this week, but has been sidelined from in-game play since August due to a leg injury.

INJURY REPORT

Oregon

OUT

6 Jahlil Florence
14 Khamari Terrell
15 Tez Johnson
17 Kyler Kasper
55 Marcus Harper
77 Matthew Bedford
93 My’Keil Gardner

QUESTIONABLE

2 Gary Bryant Jr.

Maryland

OUT

21 Sean Williams
77 Kevin Kalonji
81 Jahmari Powell-Wonson
90 Lavon Johnson
99 Dimitry Nicolas (season)

QUESTIONABLE

6 Brandon Jacob
55 Andre Roye Jr.

Nine NFL scouts are in attendance for this match up. Organizations represented at the game today include the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tennesee Titans, and the Washington Commanders.

Current Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman and former Oregon Ducks center Jackson Powers-Johnson posted to social media that he will be back in Eugene for the game. The winner of the 2023 Rimington Trophy, awarded to the top center of college football, missed the start of his NFL rookie season dealing with injuries and an illness.

Back home…. #Goducks pic.twitter.com/m5iQCuHIJ2

— Jackson Powers-Johnson (@BigJax58) November 9, 2024

The Raiders have a bye week, so Powers-Johnson used the free time to make the trip to Autzen Stadium.

Oregon is entering this contest after last week's historic 38-17 win against the Michigan Wolverines at the "Big House," which landed the Ducks at the stop spot of the College Football Playoff Committee's initial rankings for the season. Gabriel went 22-34 in passing for 294 yards and one touchdown with an additional rushing touchdown to boot. Jordan James continues to take the ground game for the Ducks, picking up 117 yards and one touchdown off 23 attempts (and don't count out Noah Whittington). Oregon's offensive line continues to excel in keeping the pocket clean with zero sacks and 4.8 average yards per rushing attempt allowed.

Defensively against the Wolverines, defensive lineman Derrick Harmon set the tone with a tackle for loss on Michigan's first offensive drive of the game. Kobe Savage and Bryce Boettcher led the Ducks in tackles with seven a piece. Seven ducks all got tastes of a tackle for loss while playing the Wolverines.

Oregon's biggest obstacle to overcome this game is their third quarter slump. At the "Big House", Oregon was only able to punch in a field goal during the third quarter. Oregon’s offense averaged 3.7 yards per play during the third quarter, whereas they put up 6.4 yards per play in the first and fourth quarter, and 9.2 yards per play in their stellar second quarter performance. For the seven passing plays the Ducks ran in the third quarter, they only gained 12 yards. This trend has plagued the Ducks for a majority of the year, and it will be interesting to see if they can put a "complete game" on the field.

 "Yeah, there's a trend, right?” Lanning said during his Michigan postgame press conference. “There's something we're certainly aware of and attacking. You know, again, they came out and got a three-out there, I think, on the very first drive in the third quarter. So, it's something we want to look at and improve."

Maryland enters Autzen Stadium 4-4 on their season. Coming off a 48-23 road loss against Minnesota, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. put up a less than perfect performance with no touchdowns, two picks, and a little over 54% accuracy in his targets. The Terrapins rely heavily on passing, so Oregon's secondary will be crucial. Though excelling in their rushing defense, the Terrapins are No. 126 out of 133 teams for their passing coverage. Basically, the Ducks need to lean on Gabriel to continue peppering in his signature short passes with deep balls Maryland simply can't defend against.

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