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Thomas could start for Oregon at Washington State

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:09 AM (22) Oregon (3-1) at Washington St (1-3), 6:15 pm EDT

PULLMAN, Washington (Ticker) -- Oregon's dizzying quarterback drama seems to take a different turn every week.

Darron Thomas, an 18-year-old freshman, is in the mix to start the 22nd-ranked Ducks' Pac-10 Conference contest Saturday at Washington State after an impressive debut in last week's loss to Boise State.

Junior college transfer Jeremiah Masoli, Oregon's third quarterback at the start of the season, started against the Broncos but left in the first quarter with a mild concussion and did not return in the second half of the 37-32 loss. True freshman Chris Harper even saw action against Boise State.

Justin Roper, Oregon's No. 2 quarterback, was unavailable after suffering a left knee injury in Oregon's 32-26 double-overtime victory at Purdue on September 13. Nate Costa, projected as Oregon's top quarterback, suffered a season-ending knee injury during preseason practice.

The quarterback casualties finally caught up with the Ducks last week, but Thomas impressed after taking over in the second half. He completed 13-of-20 passes for 210 yards and nearly rallied Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10) from a 37-13 deficit by throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

It was the most yards and touchdowns ever thrown by an Oregon quarterback making his collegiate debut.

"I don't know what coach (Mike Bellotti) is going to do, but I hope, now that I've blown my redshirt year, that I'll be able to play and help out the team," Thomas said.

Bellotti, however, seemed like he was not ready to commit to naming a starter. Masoli has not been ruled out of Saturday's game and Roper is improving, Bellotti said.

"We'll judge every day," Bellotti said. "This is an important week for us. Everybody needs to step up."

Oregon will be facing a Washington State team that gave new coach Paul Wulff his first win last week with a 48-9 victory over Portland State of the Football Championship Subdivision. The triumph came after lopsided losses to Oklahoma State, California and Baylor.

In the win last week, the Cougars (1-3, 0-1 Pac-10) lost fifth-year senior quarterback Gary Rogers, who fractured a cervical vertebra on a late hit.

The injury ended Rogers' career, but Washington State received good news Monday when Rogers walked out of the hospital. There was no spinal cord or neurological damage, and Rogers is expected to get his strength and range of motion back, according to Washington State trainer Bill Drake.

Washington State also will be without starting signal-caller Kevin Lopina, who suffered a fractured vertebrae last week. Freshman Marshall Lobbestael, the Cougars' third-string quarterback, will start Saturday's contest.