Just a week after upsetting then-ranked No. 7 Washington in overtime, the Oregon Ducks could not carry over the momentum into Saturday’s game against then-ranked No. 25 Washington State.

The disappointing loss started with the team’s worst half of the season and a halftime deficit of 27-0. The Ducks could not keep up against the Cougars, as even a spark of comeback energy in the second half was short-lived for a final score of 34-20.

“Every single week it’s going to get hard, it’s going to get more difficult and your margin of error becomes smaller and smaller,” Oregon head coach Marion Cristobal said.

Cristobal met with media on Monday to reflect Saturday’s loss and preview the team’s upcoming road trip to Tucson, Arizona, where the No. 19 Ducks will play against the Arizona Wildcats Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted, we certainly brought that upon ourselves, as players, as coaches and as a program all together,” Cristobal said. “[There is] never going to be any finger pointing. We have no room for that. There is no room for negativity and excuses. … If we don’t do a better job preparing and starting a game that can happen again.”

In the first half against the Cougars, Oregon struggled both offensively and defensively. There was a point late in the second quarter where WSU had 230-plus total yardage, compared to Oregon’s total of just one.

The second half saw an Oregon team much more alive and competitive. The Ducks were able to convert five of their 11 third downs and get within seven points of the Cougars. However, the effort wasn’t enough, as Washington State secured the win with a touchdown in the final three minutes of the game.

“It took us an entire half to adjust and wake up,” Cristobal said. “We have to train for that response to come much sooner, to not let it snowball.”

Arizona is led by two quarterbacks, Khalil Tate and Rhett Rodriguez. After limping following a sack in Arizona’s game against Utah on Oct. 12, Tate did not play in Saturday’s 31-30 loss to UCLA.

Rodriguez, a sophomore and Tucson native, has thrown for three touchdowns this season, totaling 506 total yards. Prior to the Utah game, Tate has recorded 11 passing touchdowns and thrown for 1,415 total yards.

“They’re both very effective at what they do, so you prepare for two really good football players,” Cristobal said. “One that obviously is always talked about in the Heisman race in Khalil Tate. And Rhett Rodriguez, being the son of a coach, you can tell in his demeanor, in his poise and the way he operates … that he is really talented.”

Update on athlete status:

On Monday, Cristobal noted that inside linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia’s shoulder injury will be evaluated via an MRI this week. At running back, Cristobal said CJ Verdell, who came out late against WSU with a hip flexor injury, seems to be OK, while Darrian Felix is still dealing with a foot injury.

Wide receiver Bryan Addison is serving an in-team suspension for violating a team policy and will most likely return to practicing with the team in a couple weeks.

Follow Maggie Vanoni on Twitter: @maggie_vanoni

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