Monday, October 28, 1996
FOOTBALL:
Despite giving up 435 yards, defense keeps Cal QB pressured with
seven sacksBy Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
BERKELEY, Calif. — California was reaching for the roses
Saturday, but all they wound up with were thorns.
UCLA took advantage of four Cal turnovers and a big day from
Skip Hicks to upset the Bears 38-29.
"We never gave up," head coach Bob Toledo said. "We came here
for a purpose and that purpose was to win the football game, and we
did it."
Cal, which had controlled its own destiny before kickoff,
suddenly saw its dreams of a Pacific 10 title slip away in front of
54,000 at Memorial Stadium.
The Bruins know exactly what California is going through. Two
weeks ago against Arizona State, the Bruin offense put up amazing
numbers, held a big halftime lead and, with their position in the
conference race at stake, lost.
Saturday, Cal quarterback Pat Barnes threw for 435 yards, the
most ever by a Golden Bear and the most anybody has ever thrown for
against UCLA. In addition, the Bruin defense surrendered 514 total
yards and 27 first downs.
But ironically, it was the defensive squad that allowed the
Bruins (3-4, 2-2 Pac-10) to stay in the game and eventually win it
with big play after big play.
The four Cal (5-2, 2-2) turnovers led to 17 Bruin points and
ultimately, to the victory.
"We beat ourselves," Cal wide receiver Na’il Benjamin said. "We
had more turnovers than any team can have that expects to win
games."
It all started on the third play of the game, when nose guard
Weldon Forde sacked Barnes and forced a fumble that was recovered
by defensive end Travis Kirschke. This led to a Bjorn Merten field
goal and a 3-0 Bruin lead.
In the third quarter, another fumble was recovered by Forde that
led to a Bruin touchdown and a 24-14 lead. An Andy Colbert
interception in the fourth quarter led to the Bruins’ final
touchdown and a 38-21 lead, effectively putting the game out of
reach with 11 minutes left to play.
Not only was the defense causing turnovers, but they were
getting to the quarterback as well. Barnes was sacked seven times
and hurried on countless other plays.
"It was frustrating," Barnes said. "(Without all the hurries) we
could have found time to find open receivers and keep the ball
moving … UCLA did extremely well up front, blitzing and running
their schemes."
According to Bruin linebacker Phillip Ward, UCLA was changing
things around a little bit.
"We gave them a different look but came with the same blitz," he
said. "We kind of disguised it more."
Whenever the defense needed to make a play, they made one. Cal
only converted five of 16 third-down attempts and was 0-2 on fourth
downs.
"We gave up an awful lot of yards in the passing game, but we
made some big plays when we needed to," Toledo said. "They
definitely played all out for 60 minutes."
The defense wasn’t the only squad to make big plays. The offense
also had their share of brilliant moments, particularly in the form
of tailback Skip Hicks.
Hicks, who earlier in the week wasn’t even sure that he was
going to start, had his best game of the year. Not only did he run
for 146 yards, but he also caught four passes for another 113
yards. For the second time this season, Hicks scored four
touchdowns (the first came against Northeast Louisiana), all in the
second half.
"He is a big play guy and made some," Toledo said. "I never gave
up on him; I was trying to motivate him. I sensed that he was ready
to play and his attitude today was that he wasn’t going to be
denied."
Denied he wasn’t. Whatever it took to get to the end zone, he
did. He went around people, through people and past people for his
touchdowns.
Most symbolic was his sprint at the beginning of the fourth
quarter. Clinging to a 24-21 lead and facing a second and 17 at its
own 37-yard line, UCLA called for a screen pass.
Hicks received the ball seven yards behind the line of
scrimmage, picked up a couple of key blocks, then outsprinted the
Bear defense en route to a 63-yard touchdown.
"(The play) kind of opened up a little lead," quarterback Cade
McNown said. "But he saw the end zone and just ran to it."
However, it wasn’t just Hicks that had a good day offensively.
For the Bruins, everything seemed to work.
The Bruins threw for 273 yards, and ran for 206 yards. They
averaged over six yards per play.
"I think we had a real good balance tonight," offensive
coordinator Al Borges said. "We ran the football well and it opened
up our passing game. I think the whole success revolves around our
ability to run the ball. Skip came to play and the offensive line
gave him some great holes. It was just a great night all
around."
The drive that may have turned the game around, according to
Borges, came immediately after halftime. The Bruins trailed 14-10
when they took possession of the ball at their own 25- yard line.
Seven plays and 75 yards later, Hicks ran in for his first
touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Bruins a lead they would
never relinquish.
That drive was a sign of what was to come in the second
half.
Over the final 30 minutes, UCLA took control of the game. They
held onto the ball for nearly 20 minutes of the second half,
outscoring the Bears 28-15.
As a result, the Bruins’ bowl hopes are alive and well, at least
for another week. As for Cal, a bowl berth remains likely but the
Rose Bowl is now just a fantasy.
* * *
Cade McNown was pretty busy throwing the ball Saturday, but he
had time to do a little extra work on the side. Facing third and 19
midway through the first quarter, McNown was ordered to quick kick.
He took the snap and punted the ball 58 yards for a touchback.
Not only was it the longest punt of the game, but it was the
Bruins’ longest of the season as well.
SUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin
Tailback Skip Hicks (42) eludes a defender on his way to 259
yards of total offense in UCLA’s 38-29 victory over Cal.