EUGENE, Ore. — Last season Arizona went after Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota early and kept on hassling him.

Expect the same when the Wildcats visit the No. 2 Ducks Thursday night at Autzen Stadium.

“Last year, getting to Mariota early on in the game probably threw him off a little bit. It always helps when we come out on fire in all cylinders. But it’s a 60-minute game, and sometimes longer, so we need to try and keep the pressure on him and contain him the entire time,” Arizona senior safety Jared Tevis said.

The 42-16 rout last November was Arizona’s first over a top-five team since knocking off No. 2 Oregon in 2007.

The Wildcats intercepted Mariota’s pass on his first play from scrimmage, ending his Pac-12 record streak of 353 passes without a pick. Oregon’s quarterback would finish with 308 yards passing with two touchdowns but two interceptions.

Mariota wore a brace on his knee in that game and later it was revealed that he had partially torn his medial collateral ligament in a game four weeks before.

Much like last season before his injury, Mariota is considered a leading Heisman candidate. He has thrown for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns with no interceptions. He’s also run for three scores.

“When watching him on film, the first and biggest thing that sticks out to me is his speed,” Wildcats defensive lineman Dan Pettinato said. “He’s quick and I’ve seen him outrun defensive backs and linebackers. There are times when you’ll see him looking one way, and then he’ll end up escaping the opposite way.”

Mariota completed 21 of 25 passes for 329 yards and five touchdowns in Oregon’s last outing, a 38-31 victory over Washington State on Sept. 20.

Arizona also had a bye week after a dramatic come-from-behind 49-45 victory over California, won when quarterback Anu Solomon hit Austin Hill on a 47-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final play.