After dropping their first three conference games for the second straight year, the Wildcats have focused their attention away from the Pacific 10 Conference Championship and refocused on getting to a bowl game.

"We are in the spoiler role," head coach John Mackovic said. "We have to accept that. I don't think a champion will lose three games."

Mackovic said the team's number one goal is to play well in every game and have some fun beating people and its number two goal is to not give up the idea of working its way toward the top half of the conference and working toward a bowl game.

"There are still five games left and anything can happen," senior quarterback Jason Johnson said. "We are just trying to get it started. We are trying to turn that corner and get a win."

"There is no way that this season is over," said senior receiver Bobby Wade, who has not been to a bowl game in his four years in Tucson. "We still have an opportunity to go to a bowl."

The carousel that has been the Wildcat offensive line continued to spin this weekend when Arizona lost junior offensive tackle Brandon Phillips for at least three weeks. Phillips suffered cartilage damage when another player rolled over his knee.

The Phillips injury adds to an already small number of healthy offensive lineman on the UA roster. Arizona will have either six or seven linemen available for this weekend's game against No. 9 Washington State.

Phillips had been the starting right tackle for the entire season until last week. Mackovic said that either sophomore Chris Johnson or senior Makoa Freitas will take over the starting role.

"The tough thing is that you don't have a set line up, it's always tough," Mackovic said.

"I think we have started a different line each week," Johnson said. "It has been like musical chairs, but they have done a great job."

One spot in the injury news that looks positive for the Wildcats is the return of freshman running back Mike Bell. Bell hurt his toe in the Washington game and had only two carries against Stanford last week. Freshman Beau Carr took over the running back duties in Bell's absence.

The rushing game has been a big headache for the Wildcats this season. Arizona is getting out-gained in rushing on an average of 71 yards a game to the opponents' 162.

The rushing stats have seen even more of an impact in the team's first three conference games. The Wildcats are only averaging 25 yards a game to their Pac-10 opponents' 148.

The Wildcats were unable to get off to a quick start against Stanford last week and the first quarter of the Washington State game will be extremely important.

"The first quarter is always important," Johnson said. "(Last week) we weren't able to get that ball rolling and I think that hurt us in the long run."

Arizona knows all about fast starts, unfortunately for the Wildcats, they have been on the other side of the ball.

Last season Washington State lit up UA for 28 points in the first eight minutes of the game. The Wildcats came back to make the score 28-21, but could not overcome the overwhelming start in the home loss.

Saturday will be another matchup of the Jasons at quarterback. UA's Johnson already competed against Oregon's Jason Fife three weeks ago, and will now take on another talented Jason in WSU quarterback Jason Gesser.

Johnson is currently second in the Pacific-10 Conference in total offense, while Gesser is fourth.

Johnson is coming off his worst performance of the season last week in Stanford. He was 19 of 30 for 244 yards with three interceptions.

Gesser is coming into Tucson still in the Heisman Trophy race.

"He is one heck of a quarterback," said Mackovic of Gesser. "He has terrific timing and anticipation, excellent accuracy and they set it up for him to make throws.

"If they continue to roll, anything can happen. (He) clearly would be the best candidate coming out of the west."