UCLA Returns With Key Game Against Arizona

After taking a week off, UCLA’s football team, tied for the lead in the Pacific 10, will play at Arizona Saturday night, facing one of the main contenders and one of the few teams that have managed to give the Bruins fits in the last few years.

Although UCLA leads the series 5-3-2 overall, Arizona has a 2-1-1 edge since 1980. The last time these teams met, in 1983 at Arizona, John Lee missed a field goal at the gun and the Bruins lost, 27-24. That field goal still is the only one that Lee has missed inside 40 yards.

“Arizona is the only team in the league that controls their own destiny,” UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said. “They play everyone they need to play. The rest of us, everyone else, needs some help.

There are pros and cons to having a bye in the middle of the season, as the Bruins had last week. The rest is good, but losing momentum is not. And then there’s the question of losing timing, losing the competitive edge.

Donahue has decided to consider the bye a positive factor.

“I think it can be positive for two reasons,” Donahue said. “It removed the urgency of a game coming upon us and gave our injured players a chance to recover, and because it gave us the chance to sit back and evaluate our position and be able to zero in and focus on what we have to do.”

Tailback James Primus was one of the players in need of the extra week to rest the shoulder he bruised against Cal. “He didn’t practice a day last week, and I think he’ll have no contact this week,” Donahue said. “I’m hoping he’ll be a late addition on Friday.”

Gaston Green, who had missed four games with an injured knee, played some against Cal and also needed the layoff to continue his recuperation.

Offensive tackle Russ Warnick, who suffered torn ligaments in his toe against Washington State, is still listed as doubtful. Nose guard Jim Wahler, who has a bruised shoulder, is listed as questionable.

Split end Mike Sherrard is not expected to be back this week and may not make it back for the game against Oregon State next week.

Bruin Notes Quarterback David Norrie ranks ninth nationally and first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency. He has completed 95 of 151 passes, 62.9%, for 1,243 yards and 9 touchdowns, with 5 interceptions. . . . UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said: “We are delighted with him. We’ve been pleased with Matt Stevens, too. We do have a two-quarterback system, we just don’t employ it as much as we did earlier. We still have tremendous confidence in Matt.” . . . UCLA continues to lead the Pac-10 in rushing and ranks 15th nationally with an average of 220.6 yards a game. . . . The Bruin offense has accounted for 400 yards total offense in each of its last four games. . . . UCLA has scored in 165 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the country. Arizona is second at 153 straight. . . . UCLA’s defense is allowing just 65.2 yards a game on the ground, second only to Oklahoma’s 64.2. . . . Tight end Derek Tennell has caught eight passes in the last two games after having caught just seven in the first six. . . . The Arizona game will not be seen on live TV because Arizona is still on television probation. However, the Wildcats are eligible for the Rose Bowl. . . . The Nov. 16 game with Oregon State at the Rose Bowl will have a 1 p.m. kickoff.