KEVIN KLAUS \

UA football players Boddy Wade and Jason Johnson celebrate one of their many touchdowns during their video game against two writers from the Daily Wildcat. Johnson and Wade won the contest 42-33.

Thursday September 27, 2001

In the only game that counts, the Wildcats barely edge out the Wildcat

Those who can, do. Those who can't, write about it.

It was late Tuesday night - a time not generally thought of for college football, but nonetheless, it may have been the best game of the year.

Junior quarterback Jason Johnson and junior wide receiver Bobby Wade decided to take on two of the toughest opponents they'll face this season - Maxx Wolfson and Connor Doyle of the Arizona Daily Wildcat.

The game was NCAA Football 2002, for PlayStation 2. Johnson and Wade were their virtual selves, while the reporters were the Washington State Cougars, Arizona's real-life opponent this weekend.

Before the game started, Wade and Johnson got an idea of what EA Sports thought of them. Johnson was rated only a 75 overall and, much to his surprise, was almost the slowest man on the team.

"They don't show my breakaway speed," Johnson said. "But at least they have me faster than Cliff (Watkins) and John (Rattay)."

Wade then found out that his virtual rating - 80 - also did not do him the justice he felt he deserved. However, what angered Wade the most was not his rating, but what he saw when the players took the field.

Wade, who has worn number one for the Wildcats for the last two seasons, was wearing number 81 in the game. Also, he appeared to be Caucasian, and in his own words, "looked like an alien."

"They could have at least given me a little color," Wade said.

Once the game began, it was clear that the Wildcats were in for a dogfight. Ignoring the pass-happy offense that the Cougars generally run, Doyle decided to run an option-first offense, and the results were not good.

Apparently, the game did not bestow any breakaway speed upon WSU quarterback Jason Gesser, either.

The game was close through the first three and a half quarters, but late in the fourth, with the Cougars trailing 35-33, an option pitch by Gesser from the UA 14-yard line deflected off the helmet of Wildcat linebacker Lance Briggs, who recovered the fumble and returned it for the eventual game-winning score.

Wolfson wasn't too pleased with the play-calling of his teammate.

"Damn it Connor!" Wolfson said. "Why do you have to keep running the f***ing option? It's a passing team!"

Doyle was equally unimpressed with his teammate's running performance.

"Maybe if you weren't such a crappy player, I wouldn't have to do it all myself!" Doyle said. "You f***ing a**hole."

The egos of the Wildcat players were crushed, but Doyle maintains that they let the real Wildcats win just so they wouldn't beat them up. Final score, 42-33 UA.

"Yeah, those guys would have been sore losers anyway, so I stopped blitzing in the second quarter," Doyle said. "That Johnson's a big crybaby."

When Doyle was informed that his statement was on the record, he quickly tried to apologize and said, "No, I meant that Johnson's money, baby!"

Johnson and Wade's video game stats read much like their real ones have so far this season. Johnson threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. However, he was sacked six times - well above his season average. He finished with a QB rating of 174.9, higher than his real-life rating, but only completed 50 percent of his passes - which would have been considered a disappointing game by his head coach, John Mackovic. Wade finished with four catches for 81 yards but no touchdowns.

As is customary, the game ended with a handshake and a grunted "congratulations" from Doyle and Wolfson, but it's clear that this rivalry isn't close to over. Look for the Wildcats to take on the Wildcat again next week; only next time, it'll be Oregon.

"Yeah, we'll just see what happens when I'm Joey Harrington," Wolfson said. "Then we'll see what's up."