PAC-10 UPDATE GAME OF THE WEEK vs. The Wildcats
square off against the Huskies Saturday in a vital game for both
squads. Arizona has fallen in their last two contests to Oregon and
UCLA, and at 5-3, is fighting for a bowl berth come December.
Washington looks to improve on its No. 8 BCS ranking and seeks to
qualify for a top bowl game as well. The Huskies have won four of
the last five meetings between the teams, although Arizona won the
last meeting at Husky Stadium with a 31-28 victory in 1998. PAC-10
FOOTBALL STANDINGS Â PAC-10 OVERALL Oregon 5-0 7-1 Washington
4-1 7-1 Oregon State 4-1 7-2 Arizona 3-2 5-3 UCLA 2-3 5-3
California 2-3 3-5 Stanford 2-3 3-5 Washington State 1-4 3-5 USC
0-5 3-5 SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE GAME TIME Arizona @ Washington 12:30
p.m. Oregon State @ California 12:30 p.m. Oregon @ Washington State
2:00 p.m Stanford @UCLA 3:30 p.m. USC @ Arizona Sate 6:00 p.m.
SOURCE: Pac-10 Conference Original by MAGGIE WOO/Daily Bruin Web
Adaptation by MONICA KWONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Making a mark If Saturday wasn’t the
epitome of the type of season Joey Harrington is having, then
nothing is. In one of the most impressive offensive performances of
the season, the junior signal-caller made it known why he’s
the conference’s best quarterback by engineering a comeback
from a 14-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation,
ultimately leading his Ducks to a 56-55 double-overtime victory at
Arizona State. Harrington completed 26 of 43 passes, and his 434
passing yards on the day pushed him to 18th in the country in total
offense. Most impressive, however, were Harrington’s six
touchdown passes with no interceptions, three of which came in the
final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, including the shocker
with 17 seconds remaining that sent the game into overtime.
Undefeated in Pac-10 play, Harrington and the Ducks continue to
find ways to win, and with the victory, secured a one-game
advantage in the conference race. With 1,897 yards passing and 18
touchdowns, Harrington is certainly making a name for himself this
season. The junior was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week
for his performance Saturday, the second time this season he has
received such a distinction. He was also recently recognized
nationally, by being selected as a semi-finalist for the Football
News Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Driving to the top With conference play winding
to an end, the Pac-10 seems to finally be taking a definitive
shape. Still in question, however, is what team will finish on top
when the season ends. Of the conference’s three top teams,
Oregon, Washington and Oregon State, all have 7-1 records; Oregon,
however, remains the sole team undefeated in Pac-10 play. The race
for roses is certainly under way, as Oregon must still play at
Oregon State in their final game of the season. What’s even
more exciting to speculate about is that of a possible Pac-10
presence in the National Championship game this season. The
scenario doesn’t seem entirely out of the question, as only
two undefeated teams remain among the elite of college football,
after Clemson and Nebraska fell in games played this weekend. TCU,
another unbeaten team, does not realistically have a chance to make
it to the Orange Bowl because they’re a WAC team.
Second-ranked Virginia Tech (8-0) faces a capable opponent in Miami
(6-1) this weekend and Michael Vick may be too hobbled to play
because of a sprained right ankle he obtained in a narrow win over
Pittsburgh. In the latest BCS rankings Oregon was ranked No. 7,
Washington No. 8, and Oregon State No. 11. Washington, it seems,
may have the best chance at the national title, due to the fact
that among the nation’s top 10 teams they possess the best
strength of schedule rating, which includes a 34-29 win over
powerhouse Miami. Their only loss comes from a 23-16 battle against
the Ducks at Eugene. Oregon’s only loss of the season came in
their second game, a 27-23 nail-biter at Wisconsin. Oregon
State’s only loss came in a close one as well, a narrow 33-30
finish at Washington.
Ken Simonton continues to soar On Saturday, Ken
Simonton became the first player in Pac-10 history to rush for
1,000 yards in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. The
Beaver runner accounted for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns
against Washington State in a 38-9 victory on Saturday. Simonton is
fourth in the nation with 1,163 yards rushing on the season, and
his 3,677 career yards in 31 games ranks ninth on the Pac-10 career
rushing list. He needs only 55 yards to move into 6th place
all-time ahead of UCLA runner Gaston Green.
Huskies face obstacles Though the Huskies will
be playing for a vital win on Saturday against Arizona, it will
hard for the team to gain their focus and forget the loss of fallen
teammate Curtis Williams. The starting strong safety suffered a
spinal cord injury against Stanford in yet another head-to-head
collision in the Pac-10 this season. Just last week, Arizona
cornerback Michael Jolivette received a vicious blow to the head
against Oregon and was lucky to escape with just a gash to the
chin. Williams’ progress and condition were still uncertain
as of Monday, as he remained in intensive care under sedation with
a respirator at the Stanford Medical Center. Notes compiled by
Joshua Mason, Daily Bruin Contributor.