UA quarterback flips for victory

Nine yards and a full somersault in the air later, he found himself in the endzone looking up at the referee with his hands raised and a scoreboard that read Arizona 31, Washington 28.

"We had all kinds of guys running routes. It then just opened up inside and he thought he could make it," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "Athletes do things instinctively. It was just unbelievable."

Jenkins, who also plays basketball for Lute Olson in the winter and early spring, jumped at about the two-yard line and then was hit in the legs by three Husky defenders, causing him to flip forward. He landed on his feet about two yards deep in the endzone.

"It was the most athletic play I have ever seen, it just showed his will to win," junior quarterback Keith Smith said. "We knew we were in the game all day and O.J. just made a great play to win it."

Jenkins finished the day going 10 of 19 for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 22-yard reception and five rushes for 22 yards to go along with the wild touchdown.

"It opened up on the inside and I saw two guys coming, I was at the seven-yard line," Jenkins said. "I got hit on my hip pad and I knew I was going to land in the endzone, but I am glad I landed on my feet. I used my ability and just hopped."

He led UA on the scoring drive, which started on the Wildcat 20-yard line with 2:52 remaining.

Jenkins was five of nine for 54 yards passing in the game-winning drive. He also had a reception and three rushes for 14 yards.

Through the first five games, Jenkins is 31 of 63 for 481 yards and three touchdowns passing and has 96 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown rushing.

With the Wildcats now 5-0 and UCLA coming to town Saturday, Jenkins and the rest of the team know that they have a long way to go in 1998.

"I think we are for real," Jenkins said. "We play week after week, one game at a time. We know we have a big test down the road next week against UCLA."

Through the first five weeks of the season, the two quarterback system at UA has worked like a charm for the coaching staff and the players.

"We have two good quarterbacks and we are going to play both of them," UA offensive coordinator Dino Babers said. "Those guys made all the plays. Calls are one thing, but they have to go out and make the plays happen."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.