QB issues too much for Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. -- All those quarterback injuries finally caught up to Oregon against Boise State.

The Broncos upset the 17th-ranked Ducks, 37-32, for their first victory on the road over a BCS-conference team. Redshirt freshman Kellen Moore led the way for Boise State with 386 yards passing and three touchdown throws.

“This is big,” Boise State Coach Chris Petersen said. “I know Oregon had some quarterback issues and stuff, and that helped us. Even with that, you see how explosive they are. So it was great for our guys to hang on and get this done.”

The Broncos (3-0) of the Western Athletic Conference are now 3-11 against the Pacific 10, with all of their victories coming against teams from Oregon (they had defeated Oregon State twice before in Boise).

The Ducks lost their projected No. 1 quarterback before the season, and No. 2 went down last week.

So Jeremiah Masoli, a junior-college transfer who was Oregon’s third-string quarterback going into the season, started but left the game in the first quarter because of a mild concussion.

Oregon (3-1) planned on using both Masoli and freshman Chris Harper against the Broncos after Justin Roper injured his left knee in the Ducks’ 32-26 double-overtime victory at Purdue the previous week.

But combined Masoli and Harper attempted only six passes in the first half as Boise State took a 24-6 lead.

Then came more bad news: Masoli did not return after halftime. He appeared on the sidelines wearing his jersey with shorts.

Harper’s troubles continued in the second half and Oregon gave freshman Darron Thomas a try. The Ducks had hoped to redshirt him.

Masoli’s concussion was mild and he wasn’t expected to miss any more time. Roper probably will sit out Oregon’s next game, against Washington State. The team hopes to have him back for a trip to top-ranked USC on Oct. 4.

“They’re a good running team; no doubt about that. So obviously if we shut the run down, they’re going to have the put the ball in the air . . . and that’s what we wanted them to do,” Boise State defensive back Kyle Wilson said.