Tyler Ebell was caught hot-handed on Saturday.
Even after the third-string tailback had come off the bench to
rush for 203 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against Oregon
State, all people wanted to know was how he could get tackled down
at the Beaver 1-yard line after a 73-yard run.
Reporters crowded around him to find out why. His high school
friends left messages on his cell phone to kid him about it. His
father also called to remind him about the time he led a 200-meter
race in track, looked back, tripped and fell.
“Now I’m not going to be looking back at all,”
Ebell said, smiling.
Head coach Bob Toledo won’t look back either after naming
the redshirt freshman the starter for Saturday’s game against
Oregon. With Manuel White listed as doubtful with a hamstring
injury, Toledo went to the hot hand.
“If you’re ready, you get your opportunity and you
take advantage of it, you play more,” Toledo said.
“That doesn’t mean Akil (Harris) won’t
play,” Toledo said.
Harris, who started the season opener at tailback, had a
forgettable game. He scored two touchdowns but only gained 27 yards
on 12 carries. He also fumbled the ball late in the game, and it
was returned for a touchdown.
After White pulled his hamstring in the first quarter after
making a cut, it wasn’t Harris who got the bulk of the
carries.
Instead, Ebell showed off the skills that allowed him to set
national high school single-season records with 4,495 yards and 64
rushing touchdowns in his senior year alone. The 5-foot-9,
170-pounder hid behind his offensive line and emerged in the clear
as a viable option in the backfield.
“There’s a reason why he has Mighty Mouse (as a
tattoo) on his arm,” Toledo said.
Earlier in the season, Toledo had described Ebell as an
“exciting player,” meaning he had game-breaking and
fumbling qualities. Ebell also had the knock on him that he was too
small to be an every-down back.
“I still have some work to do so that I’m not just a
one-hit wonder,” he said.
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Boys will be boys.
Toledo did not want to say Oregon State was dirty on Saturday,
but said he had warned his players before the game that they needed
to maintain their poise based on the previous week’s film of
the Beavers.
“That’s (Oregon State head coach Dennis)
Erickson’s philosophy ““ his players play
aggressive,” Toledo said. “Dennis is a fierce
competitor, and his players take on his personality. There is
nothing wrong with that.”
Senior right tackle Mike Saffer apparently did not see it that
way. He committed a retaliatory personal foul after Oregon State
linebacker Richard Seigler had given him a shot to his broken rib.
The penalty stalled a drive and held UCLA to a field goal.
Also, junior defensive end Dave Ball was whistled for a personal
foul of his own after swinging at a Beaver offensive lineman,
helping Oregon State score a touchdown on the drive.
“There was a lot of illegal contact that led to the
disqualification,” said Ball, who added he was hit in the
groin area.
Ball will be suspended for the first half of the Oregon game for
throwing a punch. Junior Asi Faoa will start in his place.
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The Bruin defensive line is banged up as it is.
Preseason All-American defensive tackle Rodney Leisle will be
lost for several weeks after breaking his right foot against Oregon
State.
Leisle, who entered the game with a stress fracture in his foot,
was told by doctors that it was on the verge of breaking.
He chose to play, and the foot broke, leaving him on crutches
after the game. Junior Ryan Boschetti will start for Leisle.
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Reports last week were that Saffer’s rib would keep him
out three to six weeks.
Try seven days.
Just an hour before game time, Saffer put a patch over the
broken rib and decided to take on the vaunted and physical Oregon
State defensive front. He served as an emotional leader and was a
big part of the reason why UCLA was able to rush for 247 yards.
Saffer said he was hurting after the game, but he wants
more.
“If I can go this week, I can definitely go next
week,” he said.