Another unbeaten team fell last weekend in the Pacific-10 Conference as UCLA lost to Arizona, sliding the Bruins into a second-place tie with Oregon. UCLA hosts Arizona State on Saturday and the Wildcats stay at home against Washington. Stanford travels to Oregon State, where both teams will battle to keep their bowl hopes alive.
No. 14 UCLA (8-1, 5-1) vs. Arizona State (5-4, 3-3)
The Sun Devils narrowly escaped upset in Pullman, Wash., last Saturday against Washington State, but managed to leave Martin Stadium with their fifth win this year. They try their luck Saturday on the road again as they play a reeling UCLA team at the Rose Bowl.
Everything was going the Bruins’ way before last week. It seemed like they were hanging on each game, winning by just enough to remain unbeaten. Regardless, their luck ran out at Arizona Stadium where the Wildcats finally played error-free and routed UCLA 52-14. The Bruins’ high-powered offense led by tailback Maurice Drew and quarterback Drew Olson has all the tools to right the ship this week and avoid being swept by the Pac-10’s Arizona schools.
Wide receiver Derek Hagan’s Sun Devils can open their mailbox for bowl invitations with a win Saturday. Hagan is well aware of the danger of playing a highly-ranked team who is coming off of a crippling loss.
“Obviously, they’re mad and they’re really going to come out this week and try to get another victory under their belt,” Hagan said. “But we’re playing like we were the first five games of the season.”
Arizona State started the season 3-1 before losing three -straight games. It has since bounced back and is riding a two-game winning streak, even without starting quarterback Sam Keller. Freshman Rudy Carpenter has stepped in to replace Keller and has yet to lose a game as a starter.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Oregon State (5-4, 3-3) vs. Stanford (4-4, 3-3)
With the season coming to an end and only six guaranteed bowl invites going to Pac-10 teams, time is running out for Oregon State and Stanford, who are in still in need of wins to earn post-season play. Should the Beavers win at Reser Stadium Saturday, head coach Walt Harris’ dream of leading the Cardinal to a bowl in his first year coaching at Stanford will be dashed unless they can win-out over California and No. 7 Notre Dame.
“These are Stanford kids, they did pretty well on the math part of their SAT’s as you could imagine, but my responsibility is to keep them on track,” Harris said. “We’re not the kind of team that can envision more than one game at a time, even though I think there is some credence to the fact that it’s down to a three-game season.”
Stanford suffered a 51-21 setback at the hands of No. 1 USC last week. Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards was on his back early and often in the loss and will need protection from his line this Saturday to give the offense a chance to steal a win in Corvallis, Ore.
The Beavers are coming off of an 18-10 win over Washington, which snapped a two-game losing streak for Oregon State. Their defense has often had to carry them through close games and should have no problem containing Stanford’s tailbacks and forcing the Cardinal to the air.
Arizona (3-6, 2-4) vs. Washington (0-6, 1-8)
Ever since freshman quarterback Willie Tuitama subbed in for Richard Kovalcheck in Arizona’s 28-21 loss to Oregon, the Wildcats have played like a completely different team. Tuitama has guided Arizona to victories in both of his starts and although they are out of bowl contention, they can continue to lay foundation for next season.
Last Saturday the Wildcats stunned UCLA in Tucson, Ariz., ending their hopes of reaching the national title game. This week they play Washington under first-year head coach Tyrone Willingham, whose team is still in search of its second win of the season. The task grew tougher in last week’s lost to Oregon State in which quarterback Johnny DuRocher broke his wrist.
Arizona State can clinch a bowl berth with a victory
Daily Emerald
November 10, 2005
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