CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona quarterback Ryan O'Hara scrambles away from an Oregon defender late in the second quarter of Saturday's loss.

The Wildcats walked off the field Saturday night with their heads rightfully hung low and leaving most Tucsonans wondering how the bleeding was going to stop.

Arizona may have lost (again) to Oregon (again) by five touchdowns and a field goal. And head coach John Mackovic's team may have been clipped 106-23 in their last two games at Arizona Stadium ÷ including falling behind by a combined total of 58-0 in the first half and 86-3 through three quarters.

The problem, however, isn't the margin the Wildcats continue to lose by; it's that nothing seems to be improving.

With just over eight minutes to go in the first half against Louisiana State a week ago, Arizona had gained a total of 13 yards on offense. Through the same amount of time against the visiting Ducks, the Wildcats managed 11.

"They had a good game plan," quarterback Nic Costa said. "Our side of the ball wasn't executing plays and they executed well."

Most discouraging was Arizona's anemic running game. Running back Mike Bell, who ran for over 100 yards in the Wildcats' season-opening victory, ran for minus-2 yards on nine carries Saturday. Arizona actually had negative rushing yards as late as three minutes into the fourth quarter.

The numbers don't lie, and the fact that Oregon quarterback Jason Fife was four yards shy ÷ by himself ÷ of eclipsing the Wildcats' game rushing total leaves most critics exasperated over the Arizona offense's inability to move the ball.

"Our offense didn't have any production," said Costa, who generated a total of 19 yards under center in just under two quarters of play. "We didn't score and the defense was on the field too long. You can't expect them to be on the field for that many plays and hold up."

After opening the game five-for-five, Costa completed zero passes on four attempts in the second quarter. The Wildcats gained only one first down while the left-handed sophomore was in the game.

Saturday's performance was most disappointing because fans believed the Ducks were closer in talent to Texas El-Paso than they were to LSU.

With another Pac-10 win, Oregon extended its stretch of seven consecutive conference-opening victories while the lowly Wildcats extended a dubious streak of their own ÷ 12 straight conference losses.

"It seems like we play hard and end up losing," senior safety Clay Hardt said. "It's hard to deal with, but we're not going to quit. We're going to play harder and harder and get ready for practice (this week) because that's all you can do."

With Purdue this week and a seemingly endless string of powerhouse teams remaining on the schedule, the Wildcats' offensive core is desperately trying to find a spark in what was another flintless Saturday night.

After two consecutive disasters at home, free safety Darrell Brooks, who had an interception called back on a pass interference penalty, believes it's time for someone to step up and take a leadership role.

"Right now I have to be vocal with my teammates," Brooks said. "(I have) to let them know I'm here if they need me (and show them) I have all the confidence in the world in every single one of them."

The quarterback situation continues to baffle fans, as neither Costa nor sophomore Ryan O'Hara put on a stand-out performance likely to get them the starting nod.

"We'll decide (on the starting quarterback position) by Tuesday," Mackovic said. "We can't make any decisions now. They both need time because they both are still developing, and this is something we have to work through."

Despite their on-field troubles, the Wildcats have stayed optimistic for the most part. Most of the players still believe the season isn't over, and that improvement is only needed in a few areas.

"We just have to be able to bounce back," sophomore wide receiver Biren Ealy said. "We don't just play three games. We have nine more and we have still have a chance to make a bowl game, which we will do."

With the trip to West Lafayette, Ind. this weekend, Arizona knows that a road win at Purdue will quiet the critics and give them a second wind before they get to the meat of the Pac-10 schedule.

"We have two more games in the month of September," Costa said. "We have a long way to go and I think it's not over. We'll be better."