It has been a magical season up to this point for the Oregon Ducks and for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, he saved his best for the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hawai'i native threw for 4 touchdowns in the 45-37 win over Penn State Nittany Lions.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel put on arguably his best performance in the biggest game of the season for the Ducks. Gabriel threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns as he led the No. 1 Ducks to a Big Ten Championship in their inaugural year in the conference. After the game, Gabriel couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm just smiling because we're Big Ten champs. I'm smiling because we took advantage of an opportunity we had. Shoot, we could have done it at Eugene Country Club, 100-yard field, if we had to, but we're appreciative of the game. . . . But more importantly, when that confetti came down, we were smiling," Gabriel said.
The Ducks defeated Penn State 45-37 on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Gabriel couldn't contain himself as he was bursting with gratitude and perspective after the game, spending his press conference talking about what made the season special so far for the Ducks.
"You live for these moments. In a lifetime of a being a kid and throwing in the front yard or in the street and you dream of these moments and want to be in them. . . . I'm appreciative of everyone coming together. It's a special group," Gabriel said. "Take a step back and look at the moments we've had this season, our big-time players made big-time plays in these moments. I love that part about it."
While the Oregon quarterback is proud of his team, Ducks coach Dan Lanning is certainly proud of Gabriel, his quarterback.
"[Dillon]
deserves every single thing that comes his way," said Lanning. "I told
him that earlier this week when he got player of the year in the Big
Ten. If anybody can't watch that performance and recognize how special
he is. This team believes in him. They're grateful every day they get to
step on the field with him. He's about connection and people first. But
the poise he shows in big games is unmeasured. I haven't been around
players like Dillon. I'm really grateful that I get to share the field
with him."
Gabriel said that the undefeated season and Big Ten title is a culmination of the confidence and belief the team had in on another.
