Senior back runs for his first score of year
PASADENA “”mdash; Though they were hard to find, Saturday’s
31-13 loss to Oregon did offer a few highlights, especially for
runningback Akil Harris. Harris was the only Bruin to score a
touchdown, his first of the season. He scored with 12 seconds left
in the game. Even though his six points were essentially
meaningless, it was a nice conclusion for the senior playing his
last game at the Rose Bowl. “It felt good. A touchdown is
always a big booster and I was able to contribute to a
score,” Harris said. “It’s the best feeling to
score, especially as a senior. It felt good being in the end zone
again.” This season Harris hasn’t seen the end zone
much as he used to. In his first three years, he scored nine
touchdowns, three each season, and rushed for over 900 yards. But
this season, his role has changed. Harris has been used in
primarily short passing situations and has only 35 yards receiving
““ 29 of which he gained Saturday ““ with no rushing
yards. “I’m not bitter about it,” Harris said.
“I was given a role to help out the team from any way
possible. Anything they asked me to do, I would.”
WALK-ON SENIOR MAKES APPEARANCE: Senior center
Tyson Clayton got his call to duty as a Bruin Saturday, filling in
for injured Robert Chai. Clayton, a walk-on math student, came in
after Chai suffered a sprained left knee early in the second
quarter. “I did pretty well,” Clayton said.
“There were a few defenses I wish I called better but for a
first time I was pretty happy. Though it would have been nicer to
win.” Center has been a dangerous job this season for the
Bruins, with senior Mike McCloskey going down for the season
against Washington before Chai sustained his injury Saturday. If
Clayton needs to play again next weekend, he feels ready.
“I’ve always wanted to play,” he said.
“I’m prepared and have been taught to be
ready.”
INJURY REPORT: Besides Chai, tight end Marcedes
Lewis was the only other injury victim of the day. He suffering a
mild concussion late in the second quarter. Lewis was held out the
rest of the game after he reportedly had trouble regaining his
composure. “I’m getting better now,” Lewis said
after the game. “But for awhile I didn’t know what was
going on. I couldn’t tell what month it was and had trouble
understanding the plays. On one play they called, Drew (Olson) had
to tell me what was going on.” Lewis was tackled and hit his
head after catching a 7-yard pass from Olson. Before leaving the
game, he had caught two passes for 20 yards.