UA sights set on rebound against Beavers

Aaron Wickenden Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore quarterback Ortege Jenkins (16) hands off to junior running back Trung Canidate (30) during Saturday's loss against UCLA at Arizona. The No. 16 Wildcats travel to Oregon tomorrow to play the Beavers.

Coming off a crushing 52-28 loss to UCLA, the No. 16 Wildcats (5-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific 10 Conference) go up against OSU (4-2, 1-2) tomorrow afternoon in Corvallis, Ore.

Arizona has dominated the Beavers over the years, holding an 18-2-1 advantage, including a five game winning streak.

But this year OSU is no pushover.

"We're going to have to play better than at Washington to win this weekend," UA head coach Dick Tomey said.

Not only are the Wildcats coming off the big loss to the Bruins, but they face a Beaver team with thoughts of its first bowl game since the 1965 Rose Bowl.

OSU is coming off a four game road trip that saw the team to 2-2.

"We are an improved team," OSU head coach Mike Riley said. "We knew that going into this season our schedule would be tougher."

So far, Riley said he has only been disappointed in his team's effort once. That came during a 24-3 loss at Arizona State.

But Arizona is clearly the biggest challenge to face the Beavers all year.

"They're an awfully good football team," Riley said. "They have a great defense again, they do a great job on special teams. They're pretty innovative with both. I would really admire them if I didn't have to play them."

Riley said the Wildcat offense "is playing at a higher level than I've ever seen them (play) before."

Arizona will go up against an OSU defense ranked sixth in the conference. The Beavers have been especially tough on the run this year.

"Their defense was kicking the dickens out of USC and Arizona State," Tomey said. He called the Beavers the "best hitting team in the conference."

OSU is led by senior defensive end Inoke Breckterfield, who has 15 tackles and five sacks this year.

"I've been told he's the best defensive end we'll have seen so far," UA sophomore quarterback Ortege Jenkins said. "If he's better than No. 50 (Brendon Ayanbadejo) of UCLA, then he's the real deal."

On offense the Beavers are led by the tandem of junior quarterback Terrance Bryant and redshirt freshman tailback Ken Simonton.

Bryant has thrown for 1,250 yards on 127 of 242 passes completed, four touchdowns and only three interceptions.

"He's very accurate," Tomey said. "You can tell he's got some experience."

Simonton has 641 yards on 136 carries this year, an average of 106.8 yards per game.

"To have a back of that capability who can make something out of nothing is outstanding for their team," Tomey said.

After giving up 297 rushing yards to UCLA last week, the Arizona defense knows it has to stop Simonton.

"Oregon State is going to be a great challenge for us," redshirt freshman defensive end Eli Wnek said. "We need to come back with a solid performance."

Jenkins said the game is crucial to Arizona, because a loss would give them an identical record with the Beavers.

"It's really important. It's a Pac-10 game," he said. "I don't overlook nobody."

Chris Jackson can be reached via e-mail at Chris.Jackson@wildcat.arizona.edu.