If a quarterback is only as good as his receivers, then Jason Fife is one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Despite throwing the first interception of his collegiate career and fumbling late in the game, Fife led the Ducks to a come-from-behind 28-24 victory Saturday over Fresno State at Autzen Stadium.
But the real game ball — and nearly every thrown ball — goes to Samie Parker, the junior receiver who had one of the best games in his Oregon career.
Parker caught nine passes for 161 yards and one touchdown, nearly identical numbers as his performance in the Fiesta Bowl, and made Fife look like an All-American at times.
“Samie is one of those receivers that can just be on fire,” said Fife, who finished 19-for-34 for 303 yards. “He’s an electrifying player.”
In Oregon’s final drive, Parker caught consecutive passes to bring the Ducks inside the Fresno State 10-yard line, setting up Onterrio Smith’s touchdown run two plays later.
“Samie stepped up big for us today. He’s my boy,” said junior tight end George Wrighster, Parker’s roommate.
On the third play of the game, Fife found Parker on a third-and-seven play on the Oregon 45-yard line. From there, the speedy receiver, also an Oregon track star, did the rest as he beat two defenders for a 70-yard score.
In the third quarter, on a crucial third down when the Ducks trailed 24-15, Parker made a 17-yard catch on a poorly-thrown Fife pass, a catch that head coach Mike Bellotti called “amazing.”
“I never had any doubt,” Parker said of the Ducks’ fourth-quarter comeback, a signature of Oregon football. “We have to stick together and be a team. Whether we are up or down, we just have to go out there and make it happen.”
Parker said Oregon’s dangerous receiving corps — which includes seniors Keenan Howry and Jason Willis — has allowed the Ducks to spread the field offensively.
Howry is poised to become Oregon’s all-time leading receiver this season, but has just two catches so far this season.
“Keenan draws a lot of attention and that opens the gate for me,” Parker said.
“If you lock in on Keenan, we’ll get you with someone else,” Wrighster said. “You can’t lock in on any one player.”
Through the first two games of the season, Parker leads the team with 13 receptions and is tied for the team lead with two touchdowns.
“I just got to go out there and have fun and make plays,” Parker said.
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