Oregon keeping faith in Fife.

Byline: ROB MOSELEY The Register-Guard

Oregon offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig wanted to make one point crystal clear.

"Jason Fife is our starting quarterback," Ludwig said after Oregon's 42-14 loss to Washington on Saturday, when the Ducks used redshirt freshman Kellen Clemens for two series in the third quarter.

It was the first Pac-10 action for Clemens, who last threw a pass in the Ducks' final nonconference game of the year, against Portland State. The Ducks inserted him Saturday in hopes of sparking the offense during what has been their worst quarter of most games this season, but he finished 0-for-3 with an interception.

"We wanted to change the tempo and get a little excitement going," UO coach Mike Bellotti said. "Kellen made a couple of plays and missed a couple of plays. He looked like a youngster out there."

Particularly on his first play, when Clemens threw a pass toward Keenan Howry that was intercepted by the Huskies. On the next possession, he drove the Ducks into field-goal range, though the kick was missed.

Clemens threw incomplete twice on that drive, but scrambled for 11 yards to move Oregon from the UW 33-yard line to the 22.

"The loss is tough, but those are valuable reps, particularly in that situation," Clemens said. "The biggest positive that will hopefully happen will be the growth that comes out of getting those reps - valuable reps, not just mop-up duty.'

The quarterbacks were told Monday that Clemens might play against the Huskies, and as halftime was ending, the Burns native was told he was replacing Fife.

Fife led the Ducks on two scoring drives in the first quarter, but was just 2-for-8 for 12 yards with an interception in the second.

"We've been looking for an answer to jump start our offense in the second half," Ludwig said. "Kellen's an exciting player. He's a tremendous athlete, has tremendous arm strength, and he throws the wet ball well."

Fife re-entered the game and threw Oregon's only completion of the third quarter before missing all seven of his passes in the fourth. Despite knowing that Clemens might play, he said, he was disappointed to be on the bench.

"It's a little hard, but at the same time I was prepared for it," Fife said. "So it wasn't as much of a shock when it happened."

Fife said he used the time to regroup and study the Washington defense as much as possible.

"I wasn't going to let myself get into a funk," he said. "Even if it was the whole game, I wasn't going to get down in the dumps. I wasn't going to do that to the team."

Clemens said Fife didn't show his disappointment.

"Jason was very supportive," Clemens said. "He said, `Good luck out there and have some fun,' and after I threw the pick, he just told me to jump back out there."

Despite the change, Oregon's third-quarter woes continued. The Ducks have just two third-quarter offensive touchdowns in the last six games, both against Arizona State.

"Somehow we're missing a couple beats," Ludwig said. "It is frustrating, it's frustrating to watch, frustrating for the players and frustrating for the coaches."

Clemens came into the game 4-for-6 for 40 yards with one touchdown this season, all but the two incompletions against Portland State.

Besides the interception, one other incompletion was almost picked off Saturday, though Clemens was able to get the Ducks into field-goal range with his legs.

"He didn't really spark us, but at the same time he didn't really hurt us," UO receiver Samie Parker said.

It doesn't matter who plays quarterback, center Dan Weaver said, as long as someone can get the Ducks out of their current funk.

"I think Fife's still our guy. If they go with Kellen, that's fine with us, too," Weaver said. "That doesn't bother us. If a guy can come in for a series and make a spark, that's fine."

At least next week, Ludwig emphasized, it will be Fife.

CAPTION(S):

Oregon quarterback Jason Fife writhes in pain after being hit hard in the Ducks' end zone during the fourth quarter. "I wasn't going to let myself get into a funk." - JASON FIFE, UO quarterback Washington's Kai Ellis chases Oregon backup quarterback Kellen Clemens.