The wild one

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior quarterback Keith Smith (12) has the ball stripped from him during Saturday's game against Washington State at Arizona Stadium. The No. 9-ranked Wildcats travel to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., to take on the California Golden Bears tomorrow afternoon at 4:30.

The last blow-out in either direction was Arizona's 33-16 win in 1986, and the last two games have both been decided in overtime, with Cal coming out on top 56-55 in quadruple OT in 1996 and UA winning on a field goal 41-38 in double OT last year.

"I think it's going to be a close one again," UA junior quarterback Keith Smith said.

Smith participated in both of the previous shoot-outs, and he'll take his 68.6 percent completion rating into the game as No. 9 Arizona (9-1 overall, 5-1 Pacific 10 Conference) goes up against the Golden Bears (5-4, 3-3) in Berkeley tomorrow afternoon at 4:30.

"I think the biggest problem for us is that Arizona is so well balanced this year," Cal head coach Tom Holmoe said. "It starts with a big, strong offensive line, a great running game, two excellent quarterbacks, two excellent receivers, they're just pretty deep on every offensive position. It's really hard to focus on just one thing about them."

For Cal, this weekend represents an almost must-win situation. While the Bears only need six wins to qualify for a bowl game, it is unlikely they would be selected ahead of a more star-studded Washington or Arizona State team.

For Arizona, this weekend is also a must-win if the Wildcats want to assure themselves of at least a spot in the Holiday Bowl, and to keep their hopes alive for the Rose, Sugar or Orange Bowls.

Both teams will throw the best defenses in the Pac-10 at each other. Arizona is tops in the conference in total defense, giving up only 317.3 yards per game, while Cal is third, giving up only 338.7 yards per game.

"Our defense has been playing well all year long," Holmoe said. "But our offense is still trying to find out where they're at."

Cal's offense has struggled, ranking at the bottom of the league, while Arizona is third in the conference with 434.6 yards per game.

The Bears have the Pac-10's most prolific wide receiver in senior Dameane Douglas, who has 928 yards on 81 receptions and four touchdowns.

"I would think so," Holmoe said when asked if he expected UA senior cornerback Chris McAlister to be tasked to stop Douglas. "Not to take anything away from Chris McAlister, who's one of the premier corners in the country, but we plan to mix it up enough where no one man can cover him (Douglas)."

UA head coach Dick Tomey said Arizona is ready for whatever formation Cal throws at his team.

"We'll see," he said. "We had to track down (Washington State's Nian) Taylor a lot last week. We have the structure to match our guys up one on one no matter what. Whether we will or not remains to be seen."

Tomey is wary of the man throwing the ball to Douglas, Cal senior quarterback Justin Vedder (174 of 314, 1,912 yards, 10 TD, 12 INT).

"Vedder gave us fits last year," Tomey said, remembering Vedder's 221-yard, one touchdown performance in Tucson last season.

The UA defense will look to shut down the run for the fifth consecutive game. The defense has allowed an average of 57.8 yards per game the last four games, and this week will go up against Cal's Marcus Fields, who has 591 yards on 133 carries and three touchdowns.

Arizona's running game, led by junior Trung Canidate (848 yards, 6 TD) and senior Kelvin Eafon (474 yards, 16 TD), will go up against a solid Cal defense which limited Arizona State's ground game to only 60 yards.

"(Their) defense is outstanding," said junior right guard Yusuf Scott. "They just come at you."

If Cal does manage to stop Arizona's ground game, the Wildcats will take to the air with Smith (94 of 137, 1,371 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT) and sophomore Ortege Jenkins (62-122, 901 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT) targeting their outstanding receivers, senior Jeremy McDaniel (792 yards, 8 TD) and junior Dennis Northcutt (820 yards, 6 TD).

"We have to be able to win with our receivers," Smith said. "Us quarterbacks have got to stay on time with the ball to get past their defense."

Scott, though, said Smith and Jenkins won't have to win the game alone, and the offensive line will get the job done in terms of opening up holes for the running game.

"I'm going to have to teach them boys myself what it means to try and stop us," Scott said.

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