Relief Effort Earns Oregon’s Maas a Start

Junior quarterback Jason Maas will get his first collegiate start Saturday when he leads Oregon against Fresno State.

Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti had indicated that Maas was the likely starter. He made it official after Thursday’s practice.

Maas came off the bench last week to lead the Ducks (2-0) to a come-from-behind, 24-20 victory over Nevada in Reno.

Akili Smith, the junior college transfer who started the first two games, will play against Fresno, Bellotti said. The Oregon coach says he wants to eventually have a full-time No. 1 quarterback, but hasn’t decided yet which of the two that will be.