Carter Has Tunnel Vision After Loss

Charles White, former Heisman Trophy winner and now assistant coach at USC, put his arm around Arizona running back Ontiwaun Carter as the two walked into the tunnel toward the locker rooms at the Coliseum Saturday. The Trojans had just defeated the Wildcats, 45-28.

“I pretty much wished him well and said there’s going to be games like this,” said White, whom Carter considers a hero from his hometown of Pacoima. “But I think he’s got a chance to play on Sundays (in the NFL).”

Carter once dreamed of such an encounter at the hallowed Coliseum. And how poignant it was that Carter had just become Arizona’s all-time leading rusher after gaining 67 yards in 18 carries.

The former Kennedy High standout, who had a one-yard run and a 65-yard pass reception for touchdowns, overtook Art Luppino, who amassed 3,371 rushing yards from 1953-56. Carter has 3,432.

But many dreams are unfulfilled--such as this one. Arizona’s loss dropped the Wildcats (7-3, 5-2) out of a first-place tie in the Pacific 10 Conference race and Carter’s career will probably end without a trip to the Rose Bowl game.

“The only thing on my mind right now is team goals,” Carter said. “I’m really upset. We had a lot of big dreams coming into the season. We just kind of fell short.”

After a slow start (nine carries, 12 yards in the first half), Carter finished with 163 yards rushing and receiving. He had five catches for 96 yards, second in that category to Richard Dice (Alemany), who had nine receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown.

But the Wildcats indeed fell short after getting oh-so close.

With the score tied, 28-28, in the third quarter, Carter took off on a 43-yard run. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound senior slipped through a hole between the center and left guard and was headed for the end zone when safety Mario Bradley dragged him down at the Trojan one.

On first down, Carter swept and was dumped for a three-yard loss. On the next play, John Herpin intercepted Danny White’s pass in the end zone.

USC, passing for a school record 434 yards against the NCAA’s sixth-best defense, then drove for the go-ahead touchdown.

Trailing, 35-28, Arizona again moved to the USC one. On third down, Carter was stuffed at the line for no gain. On fourth down, linebacker Brian Williams threw Carter for a one-yard loss.

With 8:06 remaining, USC put together a six-play, 98-yard drive that iced the game.

“It’s tough,” Carter said. “You take the good with the bad.”

Here’s the good: Without Carter, Arizona might never been in the game. His touchdown run gave the Wildcats a 21-14 lead in the third quarter. He put Arizona on top again, 28-21, with the game’s longest scoring play later in the quarter.

Carter took a dump pass from White behind the line, broke a tackle by Bradley, ran away from safety Sammy Knight 10 yards downfield and angled toward the sideline, where he slipped past Herpin at the goal line.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of things,” Carter said. “I can walk away knowing I’m No. 1 at this school. I think I did well.”

Arizona’s list of alumni running backs doesn’t include any famous names. Only four of the top 10 rushers played in the NFL. Most notable among them was Vance Johnson (eighth, 1,873 yards), who became a receiver with the Denver Broncos.

Luppino never played pro ball but he was the list’s only All-American and an Arizona legend. He still holds 25 school records in rushing, total offense, scoring and all-purpose yardage.

Attempts to contact Luppino at his home in Tucson after the game were unsuccessful. Luppino’s wife said he decided to take a nap after watching the game on television and didn’t want to talk to the press. Luppino plans to talk to Carter next week.

While White ushered Carter off the field he probably didn’t realize that Carter had passed his nephew, Russell White, as the 10th all-time leading rusher in the Pac-10. Russell rushed for 3,368 yards at Cal.