-->

...
10.17.1999
Arizona Digs Past Miners, 34-21

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Ortege Jenkins, pressed into full-game service because of an injury to quarterback Keith Smith, threw for one touchdown, scored one and set up another with a 52-yard run as Arizona outlasted Texas-El Paso 34-21 Saturday night.

Trung Canidate had a season-high 202 yards on 27 carries _ the second-best game of his career _ and scored on a 60-yard run that awakened Arizona's sluggish offense after UTEP went ahead 14-0. Canidate has rushed for over 100 yards in five straight games.

Jenkins, whose flip over Washington defenders into the end zone to win a game last year made every highlight show, went airborne again for a 6-yard TD that broke a 21-21 tie 59 seconds into the fourth quarter.

After the Wildcats (5-2) stopped UTEP on its next possession, Canidate carried four times before Jenkins kept, angled left, found a seam and ran the sideline to the 8-yard line.

Leon Callen circled left end on the next snap and scored, sending the Wildcats to a 34-21 lead with 7:38 remaining.

The Miners (3-4) drove to Arizona's 8 late in the game, but Joey Knapp dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 3:06 to go.

Greg Payne scored on a 34-yard interception return, and Jenkins threw a 3-yard pass to Eli Wnek to account for Arizona's other TDs.

UTEP's Lee Mays caught TD passes of 17 and 10 yards from Rocky Perez, who completed 17 of 33 throws for 233 yards, and Perez scored on a 7-yard run.

Arizona, which has won five of its last six, beat UTEP for the 22nd time in their last 24 meetings. The Miners haven't won in the series since 1970, or in Tucson since 1957.

Jenkins finished up after Smith bruised his ribs 1:56 into the game. Smith gained 14 yards on a draw before Trey Merkens tackled him.

Nick Salinas, who also had an interception, recovered, and the Miners drove 94 yards in 10 plays to score 6:08 into the game.

The next drive lasted 2:27 _ UTEP's 12th TD this season on a drive of under three minutes. Mays caught a 42-yard pass to the Arizona 11 on the third play of the drive.

One running play later, Perez threw to Mays in the flat, and he scored his 10-yard TD 47 seconds into the second quarter.

But that simply got Arizona's own quick-strike force going.

Canidate's long run was the eighth of his career of 60 yards or more. He scored 3:27 into the quarter.

Twenty-five seconds later, Payne picked off UTEP backup Jay Stuckey's first attempt of the game and ran into the end zone to tie the score.

Canidate, with the Miners stacked to stop him on rushes, was used on screen passes twice before Wnek scored the go-ahead TD with 42 seconds to go before halftime.





Baseball | Basketball-M | Basketball-W | Cross Country-M | Cross Country-W
Football | Golf-M | Golf-W | Gymnastics | Soccer | Softball
Swimming/Diving-M | Swimming/Diving-W | Tennis-M | Tennis-W
Track & Field-M | Track & Field-W | Volleyball | Staff Directory/General Info
Community Service | Donor Relations & Philanthropy | Heritage & Traditions
Publications | Special Events | Student-Athlete Services | Trademarks & Licensing
Alumni Letterwinners | Other LInks | Arizona.edu | Pac-10








©Copyright 1999  Total Sports --> and The University of Arizona.
All rights reserved worldwide. No portion of this site may be reproduced or
duplicated without the express written permission of Total Sports and
its third-party content partners.