Thunder Beat Lightning 59-34 in 2018 Oregon Spring Game; CJ Verdell 2 TDs

The offense proved to once again be well ahead of the defense as the Thunder earned a 59-34 win over the Lightning in the 2018 Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.

Unlike most intrasquad exhibitions, this battle matched up the different offenses (Thunder) against the defense (Lightning). The defense had a chance to gain points through takeaways, stops and sacks, per the official scoring rules, but the unit wasn't able to keep up with the fast-paced attack.

The offense totaled 503 yards despite a running clock in the second half, capping a successful first spring game under head coach Mario Cristobal, who took over for Willie Taggart this offseason.

Justin Herbert, who is heading into his third year as the starting quarterback, had an up-and-down performance while finishing 12-of-21 for 126 passing yards, finishing with one touchdown and one interception.

His most notable highlight came when his poor pass led to a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, as the Oregon Football Twitter account showed:

Despite the mistakes, Rob Moseley of the team's official site reminded people why not to be concerned:

There is no real battle at starting quarterback regardless of what Herbert did Saturday.

It was a different story at running back, with several players attempting to replace Royce Freeman. Redshirt freshman CJ Verdell certainly did the best job of showcasing his ability in this one, scoring two touchdowns:

He also led the team with eight carries and 44 rushing yards. Although nine different non-quarterbacks had a rushing attempt in the game, Verdell clearly stood above the rest.

The battle for playing time at receiver also had one standout in Daewood Davis. He scored two touchdowns through the air, finishing with three catches for 75 yards:

Tyler Shough had some impressive throws at quarterback, potentially earning the No. 2 job after finishing 5-of-8 for 103 yards and two touchdowns. With limited playing time, however, it's difficult to know if this play was just a fluke.

Meanwhile, the defense returns nine starters but struggled to get stops. The team combined for five sacks, but struggled to force turnovers or punts.

Still, there is a lot to be encouraged about on both sides. The Ducks finished 7-6 last season but appear to be on the way to a better year in 2018.