Fife, Oregon Don’t Crumble

Making only his second start for Oregon, Jason Fife already has learned to stay calm.

Fife was unfazed by his crucial fumble with less than five minutes to go and stayed levelheaded as he led No. 13 Oregon’s late rally to defeat Fresno State, 28-24, at Eugene, Ore.

Down, 24-22, Fife marched Oregon 43 yards in four plays--capped by Onterrio Smith’s two-yard rumble into the end zone with 1:07 left.

“He didn’t let any mistake or turnover get him down. And that’s the mark of a good leader,” Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said.

Fife completed 19 of 34 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks (2-0), and Smith had 35 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

“I felt more at ease and more calm today,” said Fife, who has replaced Joey Harrington at quarterback.

The Bulldogs (1-2) were without starting quarterback Jeff Grady and star receiver Bernard Berrian because of injuries, but Paul Pinegar and Deandre Gilbert filled in admirably.

Pinegar completed 16 of 36 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, including first-half touchdown passes of five and 20 yards to Gilbert as the Bulldogs took advantage of Oregon’s weak pass rush.

But, in the end, Fresno State couldn’t hold on to the lead.

“We’re disappointed, but you can’t make excuses,” Pinegar said. “The plays just didn’t go our way.”

Pinegar replaced Grady, who bruised his right hip in a season-opening 23-21 loss to Wisconsin, for the second straight week.

Berrian, who sprained his knee against Wisconsin, also didn’t play. He could be back for the Bulldogs’ Sept. 21 game at Oregon State.

The Bulldogs dominated the second quarter, with Asen Asparuhov’s 45-yard field goal and Pinegar’s 20-yard scoring pass to Gilbert. Then Fife was sacked on the last play of the half as Fresno State took a 17-10 lead.

No. 11 Washington State 49, Idaho 14--Devard Darling and Jonathan Smith each had three touchdowns as the Cougars (2-0) defeated the Vandals (0-2) in the Battle of the Palouse at Pullman, Wash.

Washington State routed its cross-border rival by sacking Idaho quarterback Brian Lindgren six times--three by Rien Long.

Lindgren still completed 33 of 49 passes for 267 yards with an interception, but the Vandals gave up 500 yards for the second consecutive week. Washington State had 517, a week after Boise State piled up 503 against Idaho.

Darling, a wide receiver who transferred from Florida State, caught scoring passes of 15 and 41 yards from Jason Gesser, who was 12 for 16 for 220 yards. Smith, a reserve running back, scored on runs of one, seven and seven yards. He carried 12 times for 121 yards, including a 52-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

No. 14 Washington 34, San Jose State 10--Cody Pickett threw three touchdown passes after the Huskies (1-1) fell behind 10-0, as they rallied for the victory over the Spartans (1-1) at Seattle.

Washington got its second consecutive 300-yard passing day from Pickett, who was 22 for 35 for 347 yards. Reggie Williams caught six passes for 160 yards and two TDs, and Rich Alexis ran for 125 yards.

The first two times Washington had the ball in the third quarter, Pickett threw touchdown passes of 22 yards to Wilbur Hooks and 21 yards to Williams.

Boston College 34, Stanford 27--Derrick Knight’s 12-yard touchdown run with 36 seconds left at Boston lifted the Eagles (2-0) to a comeback victory over the Cardinal (0-1),which lost in the debut of Coach Buddy Teevens, who took over when Tyrone Willingham left for Notre Dame.

Knight, who lost the starting job during preseason, came off the bench and ran for 104 yards in 21 carries. He capped a five-play, 65-yard drive by bursting up the middle for the game-winning score.

Stanford freshman quarterback Kyle Matter completed 17 of 27 passes for 244 yards and one TD. Starting quarterback Chris Lewis was serving a one-game suspension for an NCAA rules violation.

California 34, New Mexico State 13--Kyle Boller threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Bears got off to their first 2-0 start in five years by defeating the Aggies (0-2) at Berkeley.

Joe Igber rushed for 87 yards and Boller completed 19 of 32 passes and rushed for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Arizona State 46, Central Florida 13--Andrew Walter came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes to Shaun McDonald as the Sun Devils (2-1) defeated the Golden Knights (0-2) at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State, which trailed, 13-10, put the game away with a 29-point outburst in 5:21 of the third quarter capped by consecutive interception returns for scores by Josh Amobi and Connor Banks.