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Tuesday October 17, 2000

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A family affair

Headline Photo

MIKE LARSON

Sophomore running back Leo Mills runs upfield Saturday night against Washington State at Arizona Stadium. Mills ran for a career-high 129 yards en route to a 53-47 Arizona victory.

By Maxx Wolfson

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Struggling running back leads the Wildcat to victory

Leo Mills and the UA football team brought a triumphant conclusion to Family Weekend Saturday, defeating Washington State 53-47 in triple overtime.

Keeping in the tradition of Family Weekend, Mills got some much-needed advice from his biggest critic - his father, Leo Mills, Sr.

Mills, who has struggled most of the season, had a long chat with his father prior to kickoff.

"We talked, and he reminded me why I am here and he said it was to play football," Mills said. "He told me that college students have a lot on their mind and go through a lot of outside stuff, and I just have to block all that out."

The elder Mills' advice helped out his son Saturday - the sophomore running back ran for 70 of his game-high 129 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Coming into the season, the running back position was a two-man race between Mills and sophomore Larry Croom.

Once the season began, however, the attention - and carries - shifted to true freshman Clarence Farmer, who impressed UA fans with 100-yard performances against Stanford and USC.

Mills' starting job was not only in jeopardy in recent weeks, it was lost - the sophomore's carries occurred less-and-less frequently with each first down Farmer gained.

Throughout the first three quarters Saturday, the Wildcat running game was unspectacular with Mills and Farmer platooning at tailback.

Mills had a feeling he could change that - so he asked for more carries.

"Leo said he felt it tonight and he said that 'I feel I want the ball'," senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins said. "I told him to get on the phone (to the offensive coaches) and tell them. He got out there and did it because if you are going to talk about it, you better do it. I am proud of him."

Mills backed up his own predictions, scoring two touchdowns in the overtime periods.

The touchdowns were only the second and third touchdowns in his career and the first since he scored the lone touchdown against Penn State during the season opener last year.

In the second overtime, Mills touched the ball on every down, gaining all of Arizona's 25 yards.

"All the credit goes to that man right there," Farmer said, pointing reporters in the direction of his teammate. "My running tonight wasn't as good as it was supposed to be and I wasn't getting any yards. Leo Mills stepped up and he took over and he had the desire to go out there and make plays and that's what he did, he went out and made all the plays tonight"

An emotional Mills said after the game that, after seeing little playing time in the past two seasons, he had finally come into his own.

Mills achieved career highs in three different categories Saturday night - carries (19), rushing yards (129) and touchdowns (2).

The native of Humble, Texas was the highest rated player the Wildcats signed in 1997.

"I am just so thrilled for Leo Mills," head coach Dick Tomey said. "He came to us from Texas with a terrific reputation as a runner. He has been a terrific person and has been supportive of the other guys and he has been waiting for a time when it was his time to shine. I think he was a difference maker for us tonight."