When the UCLA football team travels to Pullman to face No. 12
Washington State on Saturday, the conference championship could be
on the line. Last week’s 21-14 loss to lowly Stanford
highlighted weaknesses that UCLA (6-3, 4-1 Pac-10) will have to
correct if it hopes to compete with the Cougars. The Bruins have
been criticized for the offense’s lack of productivity.
UCLA’s offense ““ which, in terms of productivity, only
ranks above Stanford and Arizona in the conference ““ will be
put to the test against a Washington State team that boasts the
nation’s No. 25 total defense, and the No. 8 rushing defense.
Washington State averages almost four sacks a game, and that does
not bode well for a UCLA team that allowed eight sacks last week.
Yet, a victory over the Cougars (7-2, 4-1 Pac-10) would keep the
Bruins in control of their own destiny in the conference race.
Currently the Bruins are tied with Washington State and USC in the
Pac-10 race, and with the rivalry game against the Trojans looming,
the Bruins are still focused on their goal of a conference
championship. “We know we still have a chance to win the
Pac-10 championship,” junior wide receiver Craig Bragg said.
“I think you will see a different team this Saturday,
compared to what you saw last week.” In addition to a tough
Washington State squad, the Bruins will have to contend with some
tough weather. Saturday’s forecast calls for a chance of rain
and temperatures in the low forties at kickoff. But, as the
afternoon game progresses, it will get even colder. “We
can’t control the weather,” senior defensive tackle
Ryan Boschetti said. “What we can control is their offense,
and that is what I will control.” UCLA has not won in Pullman
since 1993, and is 1-3 on the road this season, with the
team’s only victory coming at Arizona. While that is a grim
precedent, on the injury front, there is news from both UCLA and
Washington State that the Bruins should find encouraging. A
battered UCLA defense will see the return of one of its stars for
this week’s game. After being sidelined for several weeks
with a high left ankle sprain, junior cornerback Matt Ware will
return to action Saturday. Ware will not start, but he will see as
much action as his ankle can bear. His presence should help to
dampen the Cougars’ offensive attack, which has been
averaging 403.6 yards per game. The Cougars have a high-powered
receiver in Devard Darling, who is averaging 72.9 receiving yards
per game. “Their receivers are extremely talented. Sammy
Moore and Darling have really good size and speed, and they always
seem to make the big play,” Ware said. “To win, we have
to contain them." Additionally, senior defensive end Mat Ball will
play Saturday, despite not practicing for most of this week because
of a lower back strain. If Ball cannot start, senior David Tautofi
will. Senior defensive tackle Rodney Leisle, who is also suffering
from a high ankle sprain, will make the trip to Pullman, although
he said it is very unlikely that he will play. Leisle said his goal
is to play in the Oregon game, and Asi Faoa and C.J. Niusulu will
play in his place this week. For Washington State, senior
quarterback Matt Kegel will play against the Bruins, but he will be
hampered by a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his
right knee. A shaky Kegel should play to the Bruins’
advantage. Kegel is averaging 300.6 passing yards per game, good
enough for No. 13 in the nation. “I am impressed with
Kegel,” UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. “He has gotten
the crap beaten out of him, and he has gotten back in there and he
is still throwing strikes. He’s a good team leader and he has
done a good job of running their offense.” While UCLA’s
formidable defense may be able to limit the Cougars’
offensive attack, it is the UCLA offense that raises more concerns.
The Bruins have to do a better job of protecting starting
quarterback Matt Moore, and the Cougars, who were blown out last
week at USC, 43-16, are surely eager to prove that their defense is
for real. “We have a ways to go,” Bragg said.
“Our offense will get better every game, and I know
I’ve been saying that all year and it’s Week 10.”
If there is a game to markedly improve for, this is that game.
LEMAU’U SUSPENDED: Defensive lineman
Junior Lemau’u was suspended from the team after he violated
unspecified team rules. He has the possibility of being reinstated
later into the season or even as late as the spring.
“He’s got some growing up to do, and he’s off the
team so that he can understand the guidelines of how we do
things,” Dorrell said.