By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Jenkins throws 4 picks in UA's second-consecutive loss
Ortege Jenkins' passes - and possibly Arizona's major bowl hopes - were snatched out of thin air Saturday night when the Wildcats dropped a 27-24 heartbreaker to UCLA at Arizona Stadium.
The loss, which gives UA a 3-2 conference record, shocked many of the Arizona players.
"They wanted it more," senior defensive tackle Joe Tafoya said. "They took this one from underneath us. It's just a devastating loss."
Statistically, Saturday's performance may have been the worst - and most costly - of Jenkins' career. On the night, the senior was 7-of-18 for 105 yards and had a career-high four interceptions, two of which led to UCLA scores.
"When your quarterback's not going well, he gets concerned about throwing the ball," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "I feel bad for O.J."
Following the game, Jenkins took sole responsibility for the loss.
"I never thought I would play a game like this" he said. "It was by far the worst game I've played since I put this uniform on. When you talk about the passing game, you talk about the quarterback. I'm sorry I let my teammates down."
However, it was the Arizona defense - not Jenkins - that allowed the Bruins to drive 66 yards in the game's final minutes en route to the game-winning touchdown.
Facing a third-and-five situation from UA's 13-yard line, UCLA sophomore quarterback Corey Paus managed to fight through UA tacklers and sneak the ball into the end zone, giving the Bruins the lead with only 48 seconds left in the game.
"We had a crossing route (but) I just started running," Paus said. "That's one impersonation of (Virginia Tech quarterback) Michael Vick I could never do."
Paus helped UCLA convert on a fourth-and-four situation minutes earlier when he connected with junior wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a 19-yard gain, setting up the game-winning touchdown effort.
Tafoya said the fourth-down conversion changed the tone of the game.
"We knew what to expect out of them," Tafoya said. "If we get them stopped on that fourth down, we win the game. We practiced against it all week."
Arizona's last-minute attempt to drive the field failed when UCLA defensive end Rodney Leisle intercepted a Jenkins pass, sealing the victory.
Due to Jenkins' inefficiency, the Wildcats spent most of the game running the football. For the most part, Arizona was successful - Jenkins and freshman running back Clarence Farmer ran for 116 and 115 yards, respectively.
Saturday night marked the first time two UA players had run for more than 100 yards in a game since 1996, when Gary Taylor and Keith Smith combined for 286 rushing yards.
In the end though, interceptions managed to neutralize UA's ground success.
"When I needed to step up, I couldn't make the plays," Jenkins said. "The reason we didn't win is because (I) didn't play up to (my) potential. Take half the turnovers away, we win."
The game was a sweet homecoming for UCLA wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon.
A Tucson native and graduate of Sabino High School, the junior had five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in his final homecoming.
"They were all about trying to win it for me," he said of UCLA. "We like coming down here. I always talk about my hometown. I represent Tucson because that's where I'm from."
