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--> --> Oregon State, Arizona both need a win to keep hope alive CORVALLIS (AP) - Arizona and Oregon State both lost their first two Pac-10 games, and they looked awful doing it. The key difference between them is that few people expected Arizona to be any good, while Oregon State's season has been a prolonged cold shower - a shock to the confident Beavers' system. "I'd say we're both in the same situation. Perhaps we arrived differently," said first-year Wildcats coach John Mackovic, whose team plays Oregon State at Reser Stadium on Saturday night. "We were not picked to be very good in the Pac-10," Mackovic continued. "Now for the Beavers it's a whole lot different. When Sports Illustrated puts your picture on the front cover and proclaims you to be No. 1, you're riding high. So we're both there, but they took a real big fall. "Dennis (Erickson) is a veteran coach, and I know what he's doing. He's trying to reconstruct his team, just as we're doing." As bad as they've played, Oregon State (1-3 overall) and Arizona (3-2) still have much to play for. The winner of Saturday night's game likely will have a chance at a winning season and a bowl appearance, while the loser will struggle to escape the conference cellar. Something just has to give in the battle between Arizona's feeble, injury-plagued defense and Oregon State's inept offense. Last season the Beavers averaged 414.3 yards and 33.3 points per game on their way to a school-record 11 victories and a triumph in the Fiesta Bowl. This year they're putting up only 316.8 yards and 21.3 points. "We should be way better than we are right now," Erickson said. Arizona's defense gave up 111 combined points in defeats to Washington State and Oregon, and injuries have made the group look vulnerable. Defensive tackle Keoni Fraser missed last week's game against Oregon with a concussion and is doubtful for Saturday night; Outside linebacker Joe Siofele is out for three weeks with a hand injury; Defensive end Austin Uku reinjured a knee last week and won't play. "They aren't necessarily an excuse, but they are a reality," Mackovic said of the injuries. Arizona is 103rd out of 115 Division I-A teams in points allowed at 34.2, but Oregon State actually is worse, ranking 106th at 34.5 points. The unit played better in the second half of last week's 34-27 defeat to Washington State however, scoring two touchdowns as the Beavers rallied from a 31-0 deficit. The offense remains the puzzle, despite Erickson replacing his two guards and promoting Dustin Janz and Kanan Sanchez. Quarterback Jonathan Smith was sacked four times, and he continued to have problems with errant throws and miscommunications with receivers. The line also has taken most of the blame for tailback Ken Simonton gaining just 45 yards the last two weeks. "We just look soft on offense, all 11 of us," Simonton said. "Last year we did it with experience and we did it because we were confident we'd do it, and I don't see that confidence with this group," Smith added. "What we need is a win to get things going, and what we don't need is to point fingers. We have to all accept responsibility." Both Mackovic and Erickson still think they can get their teams to a bowl game, but they know that one more loss likely will push that goal out of reach. "I don't think either one of us will be considered front-runners for the Pac-10 title at this point, but there are other things to play for and good things at the end of the year," Mackovic said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing