UW’s Chambers denies Montana transfer report

The saga of Huskies wide receiver Craig Chambers continues – whether the story plays out at Washington, however, remains to be seen.

KJR-AM Sports Radio reported Thursday that Chambers, the team’s leading touchdown receiver, will transfer to Montana. However, Chambers told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Thursday afternoon that he has not made that decision.

He does plan to meet with his coaches today to discuss his future and said he had “no idea how (KJR) found that out.”

Chambers would not comment any further.

A product of nearby Jackson High School, Chambers has talent seemingly exceeded only by his enigmatic personality.

After redshirting in 2003, Chambers had to work his way out of then-coach Keith Gilbertson’s doghouse to get on the field. After being on the sidelines the first six games, Chambers finally got into the game and ended up as the team’s leading receiver with 19 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns in five games.

Early this season, Chambers’ mother, Susan, called in to KJR-AM to discuss – on air – her son’s disappointment in his playing time.

Wide receivers coach Eric Yarber said during the 2005 season that Chambers considers himself a “gamer” and indicated that his practice habits weren’t sharp.

Chambers finally played his way into a consistent role.

He finished the season with 31 catches for 573 yards – both second on the team.

Chambers has a knack for the big play. He hauled in the biggest play of the season – a 69-yard Hail Mary to end the first half at Arizona. The play shifted the game’s momentum and led to the Huskies’ only Pac-10 win of the season.

UCLA defense braces for Trojans

UCLA has made a string of opposing runners look like Heisman Trophy material – and none was exactly Reggie Bush.

The No. 11 Bruins’ generous defense is allowing 219.5 yards rushing a game to rank 115th in the country. UCLA knows it will have to plug many holes to have a chance against No. 1 Southern California at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Bush, who was extraordinary in a 29-24 victory over UCLA a year ago, has played even better as a junior this season and is a leading candidate for the Heisman.

He and power-running teammate LenDale White will be slashing at a defense that allowed Justin Forsett to rush for 153 yards and Marshawn Lynch 135 for California; Jerome Harrison to pick up 260 for Washington State; and Mike Bell to run for 153 and Gilbert Harris another 113 for Arizona.

The Bruins (9-1, 6-1 Pac-10) still beat Cal and Washington State with late comebacks, with their only loss at Arizona. But none of those teams would be mistaken for two-time defending national champion USC.

Akron 31, Northern Illinois 30: At Detroit, Luke Getsy threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 10 seconds left to give the Zips the win over the Huskies in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Ford Field.

Akron (7-5) overcome a national conference championship-game record 270 yards and two touchdowns by NIU tailback Garrett Wolfe to earn the first title in school history and a berth in the Motor City Bowl.

Akron’s winning drive started on its own 19 with 1:41 left and no timeouts. The Zips drove into Northern Illinois (7-5) territory and Hixon beat Adriel Hansbro down the middle of the field and grabbed Getsy’s pass deep in the end zone.