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Bye week ends with challenge from USC

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior kicker Mark McDonald kicks an extra point in the Wildcats' 34-19 win over Middle Tennessee State earlier this season. McDonald, who is 0 for 6 in field goal attempts this season, may wind up splitting the kicking duties with sophomore punter Chris Palic this Saturday afternoon against USC.

It's hard to miss how much the Arizona kicking game is struggling.

Just as hard as it seems to be for senior kicker Mark McDonald (0-for-6) to make a field goal this season.

So, over the course of the Wildcats' bye-week and continuing into this week, sophomore punter Chris Palic has been kicking field goals alongside McDonald in practice.

"The competition is out there and Mark is responding positively," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "Chris is competing, but we're really trying to help Mark become consistent. We're not necessarily trying to find someone else."

Palic agreed with Tomey.

"Mark had a hell of a week last week and he's continuing to do it this week and I think he'll be our No. 1 guy," Palic said. "My main job in place kicking is to give him competition."

Palic, who has struggled from time to time himself this season, said it's all a matter of gaining confidence.

"You have to focus," he said. "You just figure it's a new game and start over from there. Hopefully he'll get a great start against USC. All you need is a couple of games to get going."

One other thing that McDonald must deal with this weekend will be the fans, who were merciless toward him after the Stanford game and up at Washington State.

Palic said he's learned from past experience how to deal with the angrier members of the crowd.

"My freshman year when I was up, I heard a guy yelling at me the entire game, so I just figured most of those guys were drunk and they don't know what they're saying," he said. "You just have to be able to block it out."

Tomey said senior running back Trung Canidate was looking the best he has looked in a long time during Sunday night's practice.

After yesterday's practice, Canidate said the tendinitis in his knees that has bothered him all season has faded.

"They're fine, I'm just waiting for Saturday, getting some treatment, that's all I can do," he said. "I feel much better. I'm not in the talking mood right now. I'd rather go out and perform."

As for other members of the Wildcats' walking wounded, Tomey said most if not all have healed up over the course of the past two weeks.

"We'll find out Saturday," he said. "They usually have (shown injury improvement) over the years during bye weeks."

Sophomore cornerback Anthony Banks (ankle), junior defensive end Idris Haroon (ankle) and sophomore left guard Steven Grace (ankle) should be ready to play against the Trojans.

Southern Cal junior quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst said he expects a big game out of UA senior wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, but not just because of how Northcutt (36 receptions, 629 yards, 5 TDs) has played so far this season.

"He's from the L.A. area, so I think he's going to be extra fired up," Van Raaphorst said. "He's a great player and we expect him to give it his all."

Northcutt was quick to agree with Van Raaphorst.

"Especially USC, I've never played them before," Northcutt said. "My final two decisions came between here and USC, and they didn't think I was capable of being a Trojan."

Northcutt is one of 45 Wildcats from California, a group which also includes quarterbacks Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins, linebacker DaShon Polk, McDonald, Palic, cornerback Kelvin Hunter and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.

And while Northcutt said he would rather get a win than burn Southern Cal for another big game, he did admit that he'd like to carry the Wildcats to victory again.

"It would feel real good," he said. "I'm going to go out and give it my all. I'm going to be a little bit more emotional in this one. It's going to be a bit more of a rivalry game for me."

In addition to the game Saturday, Tomey will be running in the Dick Tomey Pony Express this weekend.

With the five kilometer race starting at 7:30 a.m. and the game starting at 12:30 p.m. Tomey isn't worried about missing the opening kickoff.

"I don't take that long in the 5K," he said with a laugh. "If I take that long to run 5K then I've really got a problem."