Title race remains cluttered By Brett Williams Oregon Daily Emerald Arizona State (4-4,3-2) at Southern California (3-5,1-4) Arizona State entered last week end’s contest with Oregon right in the thick of the Pacific-10 Confer ence race. The Sun Devils still have Rose Bowl chances even after a 20 17 loss to the Ducks but need a win against USC to stay alive. On the flip side, a season that once looked promising for Trojan football has now turned sour. USC finds itself in a battle with UCLA and Washington State to escape the Pac-10 cellar. ' The Sun Devils blew a huge lead last season against the Trojans in Los Angeles, a venue Arizona State is 3-3 at all-time. Entering the fourth quarter with a 24-13 lead, the Sun Devils self destructed and allowed USC to score 22 unanswered points and steal the victory. Arizona State running back J.R. Redmond — who burned the Tro jans for a school-record 350 all purpose yards, including 214 on the ground, a season ago — re turns to the field after a one-game suspension. The day before the Oregon game, Redmond was sus pended for violating NCAA rules. The Sun Devils will need a stel lar performance from their de fense to win. Despite the Trojans’ losing record, USC can put points on the board in a hurry. The play of Trojan receivers Kareem Kelly and R. Jay Soward are major rea sons that USC is No. 22 in the na tion in scoring offense, averaging more than 33 points per game. California (4-4,3-2) at Oregon State (5-3,2-3) Usually, Reser Stadium — for merly Parker — welcomes Pac-10 foes with open arms at this time of the season, daring them to lose to the mediocre-at-best Beavers. This season, however, Oregon State has been playing its best football in 27 years. The Beavers have a sense of urgency to get a sixth win, which would assure them of a winning record and give them an excellent chance at a _ ... , ... Scott Barnett Emerald Tailback Willie Hurst and the Huskies have the inside track to the Pac-10 title. bowl berth. California is eager to return to the postseason as well. The Gold en Bears haven’t been to a bowl since current San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Mariucci led them to the Aloha Bowl in 1996. Last season, California was out played by Oregon State, but the Beavers committed six turnovers and virtually begged the Golden Bears to win the game. Don’t expect the same result this time. Oregon State sports an explosive offense, led by running back Ken Simonton, who has ran over and around Pac-10 defenses all season. If anyone, however, can slow the explosive Simonton, it could be California. Simonton — who is second in the Pac-10 in rushing and first in scoring — hasn’t seen a defense of the Golden Bears’ cal iber yet this season. California is tied for No. 21 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing oppo nents only 109 yards per game. When the Beavers pass or find themselves in a special teams sit uation, they have to keep the ball away from California comerback Deltha O’Neal. He is ninth in the nation in kickoff returns, and he provided the difference in the Golden Bears’ win over USC last week with a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown and a key 60-yard punt return to set up a California field goal. »■> v tv ms "Kuraya's has caught on. Twice in a row it has earned mention in NORTHWEST BEST PLACES." Bob Welch __The Register-Guard KURAYA’S -—' h,a,L 1410 Mohawk BlvA, Springfield • Mon-Sat 11-2:30, Mon-Thun 5-9, Fri&Sat 5-10, Sun 4:30-9 • 746-2951 -7227777?—m Dancing at Doc's ... 9‘TIL Close fla^na Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays! TmGtm ALL NFL GAMES »16 TVs MICROBREWS & COCKTAILS BIG SCREEN SATELLITE SPORTS CIGARS • LUNCH SPECIALS • POOL BREAKFAST ALL DAY ON WEEKENDS FOOD SERVED OPEN ‘TIL CLOSE EVERYDAY 165 WEST 11™ *683-81 01 0DQ. CLA5.i>flEJP5... Y0UE. CAK/PU6 MARKETPLACE. w Game of the Week Washington (5-3,4-1) at Arizona (6-3,3-2) Washington proved it means business with a 35-30 win over Stan ford last week, With three Pacific-10 Conference games remaining, the Huskies now control their own destiny in the Rose Bowl race. But getting past the Wildcats won’t be easy. Last season, No, 14 Arizona traveled to Seattle and beat the No, 20 Huskies on Wildcat quarterback Oretge Jenkins’ acrobatic somersault touchdown with four seconds remaining. Arizona went on to win the Holiday Bowl, while Washington had to settle for a visit to the Oahu Bowl, which ended with a loss to Air Force. Ttiere are similar bowl implications this season. If Arizona wins, the Wildcats would be the front-runner for second place. If Stanford loses its final two games, Arizona could find themselves in Fasade „ na, Calif. Washington has the unenvious task of shutting down the Wild cats’ two playmakers, running back Trung Canidate and wideout Dennis Northcutt. That tandem leads an Arizona attack that has scorched opponents for 475 yards of total offense per game and could have a field day against a Washington defense that ranks only seventh in the Pac-10. On the other side of the ball, Arizona’s defense has a big Job on its hands as well. The Wildcats, who are fourth in the conference in to tal defense, can’t let Huskies’ quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo have a big game. Tuiasosopo earned Pac-10 offensive player of the week honors after his performance last week against Stanford. The Junior from Wood in viile, Wash., had one of the best outings ever by a Pac-10 quarterback against the Cardinal. Tuiasosopo racked up 509 yards of total offense, as he became the first player in Pac-10 history to account for more than 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in one game. , Arizona needs linebacker Marcus Bell to play a key role in slowing the Huskies attack. Bell was named Pac-10 defensive player of tire week after his 21-tackle performance against UCLA last week. If Washington’s offensive line is unable to stop the Wildcats’ front four, it could be a long day for the Huskies. Arizona recorded nine sacks for losses totaling 78 yards against the Bruins. J •Highway 99 i 156 Hwy 9*> N. 689-22 *1 •Spi'ingf r?!d 422J Main S'r-. 726-6041 • A'lllamette Street* Delta Oaks 2858 Willamette Street 1060 Green Acre* Ji8-8-iS5 344-1901 •Cottage Grove ’Albany ' 405 Pacific HwY- N. 1880 I4tii Aye. 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