PULLMAN, Wash. — After Saturday’s tough 32-21 loss to Washington State, Jason Fife and Keenan Howry left the makeshift Oregon interview room at the same time but not together. Fife went first, followed two steps behind by Howry, both with heads down and not talking to each other.
They didn’t meet much on the field Saturday, either.
With Washington State’s defense stacked toward the run — the Cougars desperately wanted to prevent a repeat of Onterrio Smith’s 285-yard performance of 2001 — Fife took the blame for a passing attack that hardly made Washington State pay for its run-oriented defense.
“When it came down to it, I wasn’t effective,” a dejected Fife said after the loss. “My performance didn’t help at all. In fact, I think it hindered us.”
Fife went 16-for-35 — 47 percent — for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Smith rushed 25 times for 64 yards — his lowest rush total of the season — and the Ducks produced 252 yards for their weakest offensive showing of the season.
“We just were not efficient today,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “I don’t think we were particularly effective throwing the ball.”
Most of the offensive players were quick to defend the Oregon defense, which scored two touchdowns and, for the most part, kept Washington State star quarterback Jason Gesser in check. Gesser went 20-for-38 — 53 percent — and threw four touchdowns, but two of his scores were easy lobs to tall receivers and one was an odd pass that deflected off Marques Binns and into the hands of Devard Darling.
“Overall, our defense played with great character,” Bellotti said.
Washington State’s defense, which sacked Fife four times, received cautious praise from the Ducks, who in general blamed their own “O” rather than the Cougar “D.”
“I don’t want to talk about their defense,” tight end George Wrighster said. “I think it was more on our offense.”
Despite all the offensive struggles, Oregon still entered the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss with a 21-20 lead. But the Ducks started the fourth quarter with a four-play drive that ended in a punt, then watched as the Cougars went on a 96-yard drive for a touchdown to put Washington State ahead 26-21. On the Ducks’ next possession, Fife threw an interception that set up the Cougars’ final scoring drive.
“Regardless of the situation, if coach gives me a play, I should be able to execute,” Fife said.
Later in the fourth quarter, with Oregon struggling to get back into the contest, the Ducks executed a drive that typified their offensive effort on the afternoon.
Fife scrambled for 12 yards, hit Howry for a 27-yard gain and then hit Wrighster for a 31-yard pass. Three plays later, Howry was thrown for a loss on an attempted trick play, setting up Jared Siegel — who had hit 15-straight field goals — for a 40-yard field goal attempt.
“The most upsetting thing about that kick was that it was going to put us in position to win,” Siegel said. “The most frustrating thing was not being able to help my team when it needed me.”
For the Ducks, it was just the anti-exclamation point on an anemic offensive performance.
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