For Big Plays, Bruins Find Little Mac

With J.J. Stokes and Keyshawn Johnson, big-play wide receivers have been a prominent part of L.A.’s collegiate sports scene in the 1990s. Now it’s Jim McElroy’s turn.

“That boy has wheels,” UCLA teammate Eric Scott said after McElroy made touchdown receptions of 56 and 58 yards and ran for another score in the Bruins’ 35-17 victory over California at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

It was the fifth time in eight games this season that McElroy has exceeded 100 yards in receptions. He finished with three catches for 127 yards and is averaging 23.5 yards a catch.

The way McElroy scored is what generated excitement among the crowd of 52,858.

Both touchdown receptions came in the third quarter when he used his speed to burst away from his California defender and grab the perfect spiral from quarterback Cade McNown.

“The key is to make plays,” McElroy said. “That’s all I try to do every time I get my hands on the ball. If I don’t do something, the team will be let down.”

Scott has watched McElroy since the two were L.A. high school rivals, McElroy at Washington and Scott a wide receiver at Crenshaw. He has noticed a change.

“When we first got here, he was kind of shaky,” Scott said. “All of our hands were kind of shaky. Now he’s just awesome.”

UCLA Coach Bob Toledo has tried to find ways to give McElroy the opportunity to take advantage of his athleticism. Two years ago, McElroy threw a touchdown pass against USC. On Saturday, he scored on a 23-yard run when the ball was hiked directly to him.

“The last time we ran that play it wasn’t very successful,” McElroy said. “This time, I got some good blocking and just found the end zone.”

McElroy was in position for a fourth touchdown but for a pass-interference penalty on California cornerback Kato Serwanga in the fourth quarter. McElroy was breaking free when Serwanga made contact. The ball fell incomplete, wiping out a potential 52-yard play.

“When he grabbed me, he kind of made me lose concentration,” McElroy said. “When I tried to gather myself, I lost where the ball was. I was kind of mad.”

That’s how McElroy is playing right now--he expects perfection.

“He’s in a zone,” Scott said. “Nobody is bringing him down.”

Said McElroy: “Once you get into that zone, anything is possible.”

Serwanga tried to offer insight into what defensive backs must deal with against the 5-foot-10, 156-pound senior.

“Problems come because of his flat-out speed,” Serwanga said. “And he has good rapport with the quarterback.”

McNown showed confidence in McElroy on his 58-yard scoring play, rolling left and then letting loose.

“I was kind of falling down and getting tackled. I tried to put it where I thought he could make the best catch,” McNown said.

There’s no denying how effective UCLA’s passing attack has become during the Bruins’ six-game winning streak, particularly the deep pass. It wasn’t only McElroy burning the Bears. Danny Farmer caught a 54-yard pass from McNown, who has the fourth-best passing-efficiency rating in the nation.

“We’re all on one page,” McElroy said. “Last year, we weren’t really all together, the quarterback and receiver corps. This year it’s a whole lot different. We worked on it all summer. We talked about it and now we’re doing it.”

No one is going to argue about McElroy’s contributions this season. With 774 receiving yards, he’s well on his way to 1,000.

“He said he can’t be stopped, and we all agree,” Scott said.