By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona a win away from bowl eligibility
Tomorrow's game between the UA football team and Washington may be the final road game of senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins' career.
Fittingly, the senior's final road tilt will take place at the sight of his most impressive collegiate accomplishment - Husky Stadium, where Jenkins performed his now-infamous "Leap at the Lake" two seasons ago.
On Oct. 3, 1998, Jenkins managed to sneak nine yards and somersault over three UW defenders with four seconds left in the game to give UA a 31-28 victory.
In college football, however, a quarterback is only as good as his last start.
In Jenkins' case, last Saturday's 27-24 loss to UCLA may have been the worst of his collegiate career.
Last Saturday against UCLA, Jenkins threw four interceptions en route to the Wildcats' second conference loss of the season.
UA head coach Dick Tomey is confident that Jenkins can bounce back with a solid showing against the No. 8 Huskies (7-1 overall, 4-1 Pacific 10 Conference).
"I think he'll be fine," Tomey said. "I don't think there is a quarterback who hasn't had an ugly game or two. The great ones have had those kind of games. I think O.J. will come back and rally."
Jenkins leads an Arizona (5-3, 3-2) team that is desperately in need of a conference win and is in the midst of a two-game losing streak.
UA must win one of its next three games to become bowl eligible and nothing short of winning all three games will keep the Wildcats in the hunt for a major bowl game.
Last season, UA lost its final three games and was shut out of bowl eligibility. Senior linebacker Antonio Pierce said that the 2000 Wildcats have more team unity than last year's edition.
"This team is nothing compared to last year, "Pierce said. "It's a different attitude. Nobody's pointing fingers, nobody's blaming the offense or defense. We need to go out and win these next three games (and) start with Washington."
It will take more than a leap and a little luck to defeat the Huskies and their quarterback, senior Marques Tuiasosopo.
"I think he's the best player we've played against so far," Pierce said. "He's their best running back, he's their quarterback. He's going to have the ball in his hand every play, which makes him even more dangerous. We don't want that quarterback having the ball every play."
Tuiasosopo - who was 16-of-28 for 208 yards last season against the Wildcats - is currently third in the Pac-10 with 1927 yards of total offense.
