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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1998)
Alternating QBs fuel Arizona passing game ■ das Urtege Jenkins and Keith Smith rotate quarter-to-quarter, and it works for No. 6 Arizona. By David Wilson Senior staff writer Ortege Jenkins doesn't know if he’ll be starting at quarterback for Arizona in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30. He doesn't really care. Either way. he knows he'll be splitting time under center with Keith Smith - a system the Wildcats ha\,p 1 i c A all ' We tailed one time. Jenkins said. “That was a big loss looking back. If we would have won, we probably would have been in the Fiesta Bowl. But that’s just the way it goes.” Arizona appeared destined for the Rose Bowl to face a top-10 opponent until UCLA lost to Miami in its final game of the regular sea son. The Wildcats were then forced to accept a bid to play No. 14 Nebraska (9-3) in San Diego. But all was not lost for Arizona, Jenkins said. “We were hoping to get to the Rose Bowl,” Jenkins said, “but it's not about the bowl, it's who you r\ Id., m,i 11 fd^ d year. Jenkins, a sophomore, started five games; Smith. a junior, started seven. The duo generally alternates quarters after that. It sounds a little wacky, Jenkins said, but it works. “We both can run,and we both have reallv stronn « After the games, during the week, we go eat lunch sometimes and kick it like that." Ortege Jenkins Arizona QB on Keith Smith strong, physical team. We have a big giant test on our hands. “If we can wrap this win up, it will be good on our resume. 1 don’t believe in the say ing, ‘down year,' and stuff like that. Nebraska's a good team year in and year out.” Smith finished the regular season completing 107 of 161 passes for 1.679 yards, while Jenkins comnleted arms," Jenkins said. “1 work the pocket a little bit different than he does, but he throws the ball a little bit better on the run. We read defenses the same, and we both have great attitudes. “The team feeds off both of us. Our team is 100 percent behind us - no matter who's in." Arizona finished the regular sea son 11-1, ranked fifth - arguably the best team in school history. The Wildcats' only loss came Oct. 10 to UCLA. Jenkins threw for 260 yards in the losing effort. 70 of 142 for 1,011. In an offense that uses a fairly balanced attack, both quarterbacks also ran for near ly 200 yards. The Wildcats rank 14th in the nation in rushing offense and 36th in passing offense. “It's going to be a fast-moving game,” Jenkins said. “ 1 n order to win the game, 1 I Football Statistics Nebraska Arizona 4Lp Rushing 'JnBtt Rushing Name Att Yds Avg TD Name Att Yds Avg TD Correll Buckhalter 142 799 5.6 8 Trung Canidate 167 1220 7.3 10 Joel Makovicka 97 458 4.7 2 Kelvin Eaton 145 532 3.7 1 6 Eric Crouch 96 459 4.8 5 Leon Callen 63 276 4.4 1 Dan Alexander 70 369 5.3 4 Keith Smith 47 209 4.4 3 Receiving Receiving Name Rec Yds TD Name Rec Yds TD Matt Davison 32 394 0 Dennis Northcutt 63 922 6 Shevin Wiggins 22 326 1 Jeremy McDaniel 58 916 6 Sheldon Jackson 19 343 4 Brad Brennan 15 314 3 Kenny Cheatham 13 155 1 Mike Lucky 11 142 0 Passing Passing Name Comp Att Yds TD Name Comp Att Yds TD Eric Crouch 49 101 601 4 Keith Smith 107 161 1679 6 Bobby Newcombe 50 79 712 1 Ortege Jenkins 70 142 1011 4 ! I think we have to win up front. If we establish the run, that will give us a good chance to win " Team chemistry, Jenkins said, will also help Arizona. Jenkins said he and Smith both understand their roles on the team - and don't feel like they're in competition with each other. “Since 1 got here he took me under his wing,” Jenkins said. “We just developed as a whole on and off the field - me putting some of my game in his game and vice versa. “After the games, during the week, we go eat lunch sometimes and kick it like that. Once we're around campus, it's just me and him. We're always trying to strive and work together." And Jenkins expects it to stay that way next season. “I think if you're 11-1, and the best team in school history, there’s no reason to change anything.” Nebraska results (9-3) Aug. 29 La Tech W 56-27 Sept. 5 UAB W 38-7 Sept. 12 at California W 24-3 Sept. 26 Washington W 55-7 Oct. 3 Oklahoma St. W 24-17 Oct. 10 at Texas A&M L 28-21 Oct. 17 Kansas W 41-0 Oct. 24 Missouri W 20-13 Oct. 31 Texas L 16-20 Nov. 7 at Iowa St. W 42-7 Nov. 14 at Kansas St. L 30-40 Nov. 27 Colorado W16-14 Arizona results (11-1) Sept. 3 at Hawaii W 27-6 Sept. 12 at Stanford W 31-14 Sept. 19 Iowa W 35-11 Sept. 24 at San Diego St. W 35-16 Oct. 3 at Washington W 31-28 Oct. 10 UCLA L 28-52 Oct. 17 at Oregon St. W 28-7 Oct. 24 Northeast Louisiana W 45-7 Oct. 31 Oregon W 38-3 Nov. 7 Washington St. W 41-7 Nov 14 at California W 27-32 Nov. 27 Arizona St. W 50-42 Evans expected back for game vs. Wildcats By David Wilson Senior staff writer Though he hasn't taken a hit in eight weeks, Nebraska I-back DeAngelo Evans, hampered by a bruised tailbone, said he expects to return to play in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30. "I think 1 should be ready,” said Evans, who missed the Cornhuskers' final six games with the injury. The Wichita. Kan., native also missed NU's first three games after having his left knee scoped. While trying to return from injury, Evans ran into another setback last week, spending nine hours in a Seward County jail for driv ing with a suspended license. Though he has a court date later this month, Evans said the issue, which blos somed from an unpaid speeding ticket, has been settled. His focus now. he said, is in preparing to face Arizona. Evans saw action in three games this season, taking 38 carries for 218 yards and four touchdow ns. ”1 realK never got to get in a groov e." Evans said. "1 think our team suffered because of that." The 5-foot-9. 210-pound sophomore was awarded a medical hardship after sit ting out the entire 1997 season to recover from a pelv ic injury he suffered as a true freshman in 1996. In his first game back this season. Evans ran for 1 16 yards and three touch downs in a 55-7 rout of Washington on Sept. 26. But it was all downhill from there. For Evans, the road to recover) has been filled with fans doubting his physical toughness. '"That's been the frustrating tiling." Evans said. "They don't mean anything I really never got to get in a groove. I think our team suffered because DeAngelo Evans NU I-back personal about it. They just want to wm. It's been a tough situation. Things just haven't progressed like 1 wanted them to.” The Huskers, who finished 9-3 and ranked 13th, lost two of their final six games without Evans. "We have one more opportunity to get things rolling,” Evans said. “Right now. I'm just looking forward to getting this team back on track " The Holiday Bowl could also see the return of sophomore quarterback Bobby Newcombe, who missed NU's final four games with a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee. "It doesn't appear that he will be able to come back here very quickly,” Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said last week. Newcombe, who suffered the injury in NU's season opener, played five games on the injury after sitting out two games. The Albuquerque. N.M.. native completed 50 of 79 passes for 712 yards in six games this year. Also out for the season is rover Joe Walker. Walker tore his anterior cruciate ligament Saturday during a practice held at the Cook Pavilion. Walker was injured fielding punts in a non-contact drill. Mike Warren/DN SENIOR FULLBACK JOEL Makovicka will play in his last game as a Husker in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 30th.