For Bonds, the Battle for No. 1 Continues : UCLA: Backup quarterback grateful for getting a chance in practice to compete with Johnson.

Terry Donahue kept his word, creating competition for jobs in practice this week as UCLA prepared to play Washington Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

That was good news for Jim Bonds, who was given a second chance to show the coaching staff that perhaps he should be the Bruins’ starting quarterback.

Unfortunately, for Bonds, though, he remained No. 2 on the depth chart.

But, for the first time in almost two months, when they were locked in a preseason fight to succeed Troy Aikman as the Bruins’ No. 1 signal-caller, Bonds and Bret Johnson alternated in working with the first-string offense.

Bonds made his most extensive appearance of the season last Saturday, replacing the struggling Johnson at halftime of an 18-17 loss to Oregon State and completing seven of 14 passes for 99 yards.

Donahue said Monday that he did not anticipate making Bonds his starter, but neither did he rule out the possibility and said that players at all positions would be re-evaluated as the coaching staff tries to find the reasons for a disappointing 3-4 start.

Bonds was told Tuesday, though, that Johnson would start Saturday.

Bonds and Johnson had not split time with the first-string offense since Aug. 31, when Bonds completed only two of seven passes for 15 yards and had three passes intercepted in the Bruins’ final scrimmage of fall camp.

Bonds sensed that day that he had lost the battle. The next day, still a week before UCLA’s opening game against Tennessee, Donahue summoned Bonds for a meeting.

What was said?

Recalled Bonds this week: “He said, ‘What are you thinking? Do you want this decision to be made so you guys can go on with your lives? Is the pressure getting to you, or do you want to wait another week to see what happens?’

“Right then, I said, ‘I’d like it to go another week. I need as much time as I can get.’ He kind of laughed and made the decision the next day.”

The news, as expected, was not good for Bonds.

“We were so even throughout fall camp and then I came out and just had a terrible day,” he said. “It was just (bad) timing.”

It wasn’t any easier to take when Johnson passed for 986 yards and nine touchdowns in UCLA’s first five games, including 331 yards and five touchdowns in Pacific 10 Conference victories over California and Arizona State.

“It’s hard to sit on the sideline and cheer for your competition,” Bonds said. “But I’d get so caught up in the games that I didn’t even think about it being Bret out there. You might not believe it, but I just rooted for UCLA.

“But when Sunday morning rolled around and I read the articles and realized it could be me, I got a little frustrated.”

Nor was it easy for Bonds knowing that Johnson, a redshirt freshman, has three more years of eligibility and Bonds, a sophomore, has only two.

“That was the hardest thing about it, knowing that as long as he does well and keeps his job, he has the added edge of having an extra year over me,” Bonds said.

Bonds persevered, though.

“I’ve done really well, considering that one scrimmage turned around the whole season for me,” he said. “That could really mess up a guy if he dwelled on it.”

Bonds finally got a chance two weeks ago against Arizona.

Late in the first half of a 42-7 loss, Donahue ordered Bonds to warm up, then called him to his side. Giving Bonds a quizzical look, he asked if he was ready. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m ready,’ ” Bonds said. “ ‘Are you going to put me in?’ And he said, ‘Go get your helmet. You can’t play with your hat on.’ ”

An embarrassed Bonds retrieved his helmet from under the bench, ran onto the field and watched in horror as his first pass was almost intercepted by cornerback Darryl Lewis, who would have scored if he hadn’t dropped the ball.

Bonds said he misread the defense and never saw Lewis.

Bonds’ second pass was intercepted--by Wildcat linebacker Chris Singleton--setting up a seven-yard touchdown run by Ronald Veal to give Arizona a 28-0 lead.

“I tried to force it,” Bonds said.

Although he was brought into a difficult situation, he said: “I’m not complaining. I wanted to play.”

Bonds led a late touchdown drive, but UCLA trailed, 42-0, when the drive began.

Last week, he was called upon at halftime with UCLA trailing, 10-6. He rallied the Bruins to a 17-10 lead, watched the defense give up a late touchdown and two-point conversion, then brought UCLA down the field again.

UCLA reached Oregon State’s 28-yard line before a holding penalty took the Bruins out of field-goal range. Alfredo Velasco’s 55-yard kick fell short.

Assessing his performance, Bonds said: “It could have been better. We could have won.”

Bonds was given a chance to win this week in practice. Johnson hasn’t led a touchdown drive since the second quarter of the Arizona State game 2 1/2 games ago and last week completed only four of 15 passes.

Would it have been easier for Bonds to watch had Johnson remained effective and the Bruins hadn’t faltered?

“I guess it would be hard either way,” Bonds said. “If we were 7-0, he’d be having a wonderful season and I’d be long forgotten.”

With the Bruins struggling?

“In the back of your mind, you think that if you were out there, you could make the offense go better and you could make the difference,” Bonds said. “I’m not questioning the coaches. It’s their decision to make.”

Bonds just hoped to make it as difficult as possible.

Bruin Notes

In UCLA’s last two games, Jim Bonds has completed 12 of 22 passes for 155 yards and has had three passes intercepted. Bret Johnson has completed 15 of 37 for 183 yards and also has had three passes intercepted. . . . Kirk Maggio’s 72-yard punt against Oregon State last week was UCLA’s longest since 1972, when Bruce Barnes had a 75-yarder against Michigan. . . . UCLA is negotiating with Southern Methodist to fill an open date on its 1994 schedule.