Timing a Big Part of Farmer’s Success

The 161 yards Saturday against Oregon was easily a career high, bettering the 121 that came versus Washington State in 1996, but the performance was also typical.

Junior flanker Danny Farmer continues not only to be a big-play receiver, having averaged 105.8 yards a game and 24 per catch, but the receiver who is regularly involved in the big plays that have helped UCLA remain undefeated and No. 2 in both polls. A single reception, in fact, has already been a key to victory three times.

* Leading by 11, the Bruins were facing third and 17 from their 32 with about 7 1/2 minutes remaining at Houston. Failure to extend the drive would have forced a punt, which would have given the pesky Cougars the chance to score and go for a two-point conversion and get within a field goal. But Farmer went down the right sideline and Cade McNown hit him in stride with a beautifully thrown pass for a 41-yard gain. UCLA scored about two minutes later to clinch the 42-24 win.

* Clinging to a three-point lead at Arizona, the same tandem provided the Bruins with a much-needed cushion, connecting on a 64-yard touchdown pass on UCLA’s first play of the fourth quarter. That made it 38-28, worth the first double-digit lead for either team and a major blow to the Wildcats.

* And Saturday, with leads of 14-0 and 24-7 in the first half having been erased, the Bruins were tied, 31-31, late in the fourth quarter. When Pete Holland jarred the ball loose from Duck tailback Reuben Droughns and Tony White and Micah Webb each got a hand on the ball for the recovery with 2:39 left, UCLA had denied Oregon the chance to grind time off the clock going for a potential winning score. Instead, Farmer and McNown hooked up on the next play, a 60-yard score for what turned out to be a brief advantage, but a big part of the 161 yards, and of Farmer’s prominence.