Harris Gets His Chance to Shine

Facing Arizona State without tailback DeShaun Foster is business as usual for UCLA.

It happened last season too. At least the Bruins aren’t trailing by three touchdowns yet.

Arizona State jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the Rose Bowl last year and Foster went out with a broken hand. Akil Harris came off the bench to rush for 100 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown in his second carry.

UCLA matched its largest comeback in school history with a 28-point third quarter and won, 38-31. The Bruins rushed for 233 yards.

Harris, a sophomore who has 237 yards this year, and Manuel White, a freshman who has 205, have shared the load in two games since Foster was declared ineligible.

But Arizona State remains Harris’ highlight.

“That was a breakout game for me and it really gave me confidence going into this year,” he said.

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UCLA is not the only team whose quarterback has dropped to third string. Arizona State’s Jeff Krohn, who has passed for 1,942 yards and 19 touchdowns, has tendinitis in his right shoulder and will give way to redshirt freshman Andrew Walter for the second week in a row.

Matt Cooper, a junior, will be the first quarterback off the bench.

“Too much has been made of the fact that Walter is starting,” Sun Devil Coach Dirk Koetter said. “It’s not a hard decision [because] Jeff can’t throw. During practice last week for the Arizona game, Jeff was throwing about 90% or better, but this week the shoulder hasn’t responded. He probably would be able to play if we need him and hand off the ball or throw some very short passes, but that’s about it.”

Walter, 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, has completed 22 of 57 passes for 320 yards and one touchdown. In last Friday’s 34-21 loss to Arizona, Walter started, was replaced by Krohn late in the second quarter, then returned late in the game, throwing for 132 yards.

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Jason Shivers, a true freshman, leads Arizona State with 76 tackles. Shivers is the free safety, and when he racks up tackles it means opposing runners are breaking into the secondary. He had 17 tackles against Washington and 15 against Oregon, but the Sun Devils surrendered a combined 75 points and lost both games.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When UCLA has the ball: Fifth-year senior quarterback Scott McEwan makes his first start against a porous defense that gives up 257 yards a game through the air. The Sun Devils have started three redshirt freshmen and two true freshmen in the secondary. The key to giving McEwan time to throw is blocking defensive end Terrell Suggs, who has 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. The Bruins will continue to alternate Akil Harris and Manuel White at tailback.

When Arizona State has the ball: The Sun Devils have two dangerous threats in tailback Delvon Flowers and receiver Shaun McDonald. Flowers, a senior, needs nine yards to reach 1,000 for the first time. McDonald leads the Pacific 10 with 103.9 yards receiving per game and needs 106 to break the school record of 1,144 set by Morris Owens in 1973. UCLA will start backup safeties Ben Emanuel and Kevin Brant because seniors Marques Anderson and Jason Stephens are injured. But Sun Devil quarterback Andrew Walter is a backup who struggled in his first start last week.

Key to the game: Which backup quarterback will perform better? McEwan has waited five years for this opportunity and has played well in relief. He has a tendency to fumble when getting sacked but rarely forces throws into tight coverage. Walter is inexperienced but highly regarded.

Fast fact: Arizona State has given up at least 24 points to every Pac-10 opponent.

The pick: Both teams have lost four in a row, but this is the last home game for 22 Bruin seniors, who should play with emotion and purpose.The edge: UCLA

The line: UCLA by 101/2.