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PAC-10 UPDATE GAME OF THE WEEK vs. The Wildcats square off against the Huskies Saturday in a vital game for both squads. Arizona has fallen in their last two contests to Oregon and UCLA, and at 5-3, is fighting for a bowl berth come December. Washington looks to improve on its No. 8 BCS ranking and seeks to qualify for a top bowl game as well. The Huskies have won four of the last five meetings between the teams, although Arizona won the last meeting at Husky Stadium with a 31-28 victory in 1998. PAC-10 FOOTBALL STANDINGS   PAC-10 OVERALL Oregon 5-0 7-1 Washington 4-1 7-1 Oregon State 4-1 7-2 Arizona 3-2 5-3 UCLA 2-3 5-3 California 2-3 3-5 Stanford 2-3 3-5 Washington State 1-4 3-5 USC 0-5 3-5 SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE GAME TIME Arizona @ Washington 12:30 p.m. Oregon State @ California 12:30 p.m. Oregon @ Washington State 2:00 p.m Stanford @UCLA 3:30 p.m. USC @ Arizona Sate 6:00 p.m. SOURCE: Pac-10 Conference Original by MAGGIE WOO/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by MONICA KWONG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Making a mark If Saturday wasn’t the epitome of the type of season Joey Harrington is having, then nothing is. In one of the most impressive offensive performances of the season, the junior signal-caller made it known why he’s the conference’s best quarterback by engineering a comeback from a 14-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation, ultimately leading his Ducks to a 56-55 double-overtime victory at Arizona State. Harrington completed 26 of 43 passes, and his 434 passing yards on the day pushed him to 18th in the country in total offense. Most impressive, however, were Harrington’s six touchdown passes with no interceptions, three of which came in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, including the shocker with 17 seconds remaining that sent the game into overtime. Undefeated in Pac-10 play, Harrington and the Ducks continue to find ways to win, and with the victory, secured a one-game advantage in the conference race. With 1,897 yards passing and 18 touchdowns, Harrington is certainly making a name for himself this season. The junior was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week for his performance Saturday, the second time this season he has received such a distinction. He was also recently recognized nationally, by being selected as a semi-finalist for the Football News Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Driving to the top With conference play winding to an end, the Pac-10 seems to finally be taking a definitive shape. Still in question, however, is what team will finish on top when the season ends. Of the conference’s three top teams, Oregon, Washington and Oregon State, all have 7-1 records; Oregon, however, remains the sole team undefeated in Pac-10 play. The race for roses is certainly under way, as Oregon must still play at Oregon State in their final game of the season. What’s even more exciting to speculate about is that of a possible Pac-10 presence in the National Championship game this season. The scenario doesn’t seem entirely out of the question, as only two undefeated teams remain among the elite of college football, after Clemson and Nebraska fell in games played this weekend. TCU, another unbeaten team, does not realistically have a chance to make it to the Orange Bowl because they’re a WAC team. Second-ranked Virginia Tech (8-0) faces a capable opponent in Miami (6-1) this weekend and Michael Vick may be too hobbled to play because of a sprained right ankle he obtained in a narrow win over Pittsburgh. In the latest BCS rankings Oregon was ranked No. 7, Washington No. 8, and Oregon State No. 11. Washington, it seems, may have the best chance at the national title, due to the fact that among the nation’s top 10 teams they possess the best strength of schedule rating, which includes a 34-29 win over powerhouse Miami. Their only loss comes from a 23-16 battle against the Ducks at Eugene. Oregon’s only loss of the season came in their second game, a 27-23 nail-biter at Wisconsin. Oregon State’s only loss came in a close one as well, a narrow 33-30 finish at Washington.

Ken Simonton continues to soar On Saturday, Ken Simonton became the first player in Pac-10 history to rush for 1,000 yards in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. The Beaver runner accounted for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Washington State in a 38-9 victory on Saturday. Simonton is fourth in the nation with 1,163 yards rushing on the season, and his 3,677 career yards in 31 games ranks ninth on the Pac-10 career rushing list. He needs only 55 yards to move into 6th place all-time ahead of UCLA runner Gaston Green.

Huskies face obstacles Though the Huskies will be playing for a vital win on Saturday against Arizona, it will hard for the team to gain their focus and forget the loss of fallen teammate Curtis Williams. The starting strong safety suffered a spinal cord injury against Stanford in yet another head-to-head collision in the Pac-10 this season. Just last week, Arizona cornerback Michael Jolivette received a vicious blow to the head against Oregon and was lucky to escape with just a gash to the chin. Williams’ progress and condition were still uncertain as of Monday, as he remained in intensive care under sedation with a respirator at the Stanford Medical Center. Notes compiled by Joshua Mason, Daily Bruin Contributor.