WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Wildcat sophomore Mike Bell celebrates one of his three rushing touchdowns last week against Washington. Bell will need a similar output if Arizona hopes to upset the No. 2 Southern California Trojans tomorrow in Arizona Stadium.

No. 2 USC needs road win to keep title hopes alive

As No. 2 Southern California gets set for its game tomorrow night against a rejuvenated Arizona football squad, the host Wildcats are certain of two things: they have so much to gain, while the visiting Trojans have everything to lose.

"I hope they feel they have to come ready to play," said UA safety Darrell Brooks. "They don't want anything bad to happen so we are both coming into this game fully focused and trying to win."

Arizona (2-8, 1-7 Pacific 10 Conference) enters tomorrow's 5 p.m. showdown with the Trojans fresh off its second win of the season, a 27-22 upset over the visiting Washington Huskies that put an end to the squad's 13 game home conference losing streak.

The Trojans enter the game as the second-ranked team in the country in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls, as well as the Bowl Championship Series standings. While the Trojans jockey for position in the national ranks, the Wildcats are fighting for a chance to finish ahead of rival Arizona State, which currently sits tied with Arizona for last in the Pac-10 at 1-5.

After Arizona's unexpected win over Washington, the winner of the ASU-UA matchup Thanksgiving weekend will finish head of its rival in the final conference standings, an unexpected turn of events after ASU was considered an early contender for the Pac-10 crown.

Senior defensive back Clay Hardt said he thinks no one should be surprised if they see a scene similar to last week if the Wildcats manage to pull off the unthinkable.

"The stage is so big for us," Hardt said. "I don't think USC feels the same way, but for us we get a chance to be the spoiler. I think it's gonna be rockin' again."

The Wildcats have their work cut out for them if they plan to be a part of Sportscenter's lead highlight tomorrow evening. Arizona faces a USC offense ranked sixth in the country in scoring at 40.2 points per game.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Leinart hasn't broken stride since taking over signal-calling duties from last year's Heisman Trophy winner, Carson Palmer. Leinart has thrown for more than 2,300 yards while tossing 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Leinart is the 10th-highest-rated passer in the nation with a rating of 160.1.

Wideouts Keary Colbert and Mike Williams have been successful at making Leinart's transition into the starting role an easy one. Colbert, a senior, has caught 49 balls for 729 yards and seven touchdowns while Williams, a 6-foot-5, 230 pound sophomore has hauled in 58 catches for 829 yards and nine scores.

For the Wildcats, tailback Mike Bell established himself as a feature ball carrier in the UW win, rushing for 222 yards and three scores on 25 carries. Bell broke free from Husky defenders on three occasions during the game, taking in touchdown runs of 69, 67 and 37 yards.

Bell, who was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for his efforts, jumped to third on the Pac-10 rushing chart with 803 yards after posting his third straight 100-yard game.

While the sophomore from Phoenix is aware that USC is playing for a berth in the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans - site of the BCS title game in January - he thinks the Wildcats have a chance to make some noise again this weekend.

"They're playing a team that won't give up," Bell said. "It's going to be hard. It's not gonna be an easy victory (for USC). It's going to be a good game."

As UA interim head coach Mike Hankwitz enters what could be his second-to-last game at the helm of the Wildcats, the long-time assistant and first-time collegiate head coach said he thinks his team has enough motivation to duplicate last week's win.

"(The win) shows them what they are capable of," Hankwitz said. "We have a great challenge. Now we have to go out and get another win."