By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Jenkins "a warrior," according to head coach
Following a game in which UA senior Ortege Jenkins seemed constantly under attack by a stifling Ohio State defense, UA head coach Dick Tomey was quick to praise his quarterback's toughness under pressure.
"There's a lot of stuff on (game) films that I love," Tomey said. "I love our quarterback."
Jenkins was sacked eight times and hurried numerous times en route to the 27-17 loss.
The senior is just 14-of-38 from the field in the young season.
Tomey, however, noted Jenkins' heart as the game wore on.
"We've never had a guy like him," Tomey said. "The last couple of years, when the quarterback got stung, we'd take him out. (But Jenkins) was a warrior."
In the past two seasons, Jenkins and Keith Smith platooned as the team's primary signal callers. With the departure of Smith and a lack of experienced backups, the job is Jenkins' to lose.
"He very much wants to be the best quarterback to ever play the game," Tomey said. "He wants to be successful. I am just as impressed with his toughness and competitiveness."
In his first game back since suffering a back injury against Stanford last season, senior wide receiver Brad Brennan logged just one play against the Buckeyes.
"It's all right, it is feeling a little tight, I just wasn't completely ready yet," Brennan said. "It is really difficult especially when you think that you could contribute."
According to Tomey, Brennan - clearly not 100 percent since the injury - will be brought back slowly.
"Brad said that it didn't feel good," Tomey said. "He's going to be closer to going this week."
Tomey will allow the senior to rest until the Pacific 10 Conference season starts on Sept. 30 against Stanford.
"Our goal all along has been for him to start the Stanford game," Tomey said. "Anything earlier is just gravy."
Freshman safety Clay Hardt was forced to watch from the sidelines while battling pneumonia.
"Clay had a little touch of pneumonia," Tomey said. "Doctors looked at him Friday and decided that they didn't want him to play."
Hardt, who had originally been diagnosed with flu-like symptoms, had one tackle in a reserve role last weekend against Utah.
Left guard Steven Grace, who injured his left shoulder early in the second quarter, is not predicted to return until the Wildcats take on Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif.
The injury to the junior has left Tomey worried about the team's blocking future.
"The offensive line is one place where the only way to gain experience is to play," Tomey said. "(Experience) is not easily gained."
For senior center Bruce Wiggins, the injury could change some of the line's chemistry.
"When Steve's in there, I don't have to worry," he said. "(But) you've got to play with the guys you have out there."
Grace will likely be replaced by Aaron Higginbotham, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Calimesa, Calif.
Following the Buckeye win at Arizona Stadium, Ohio State players and coaches had positive things to say about the Wildcats.
"They are a good team," OSU head coach John Cooper said of Arizona. "Arizona will win a few good games this year. They have some tough fans."
Similar to last weekend's victory against Utah, the Arizona defense held OSU to just 10 points and 156 yards of total offense.
"They are a very quick group," Bellisari said. "They are very solid defensively and did make it very difficult for us in the second half."
The Buckeyes also seemed to be impressed by UA's offense. Despite managing just two completions in the first half, the Wildcats led by a touchdown at the break.
"Give them credit," Buckeye guard Mike Collins said. "They came out aggressive and attacked our defense. The key for us was that we regrouped (in the second half) and started making plays that we were capable of."
