EUGENE, Ore. “”mdash; Justin Medlock had been waiting for this
day for a long time. A whole season, in fact. So when the UCLA
kicker had a chance to make things right, to make amends for two
missed field goals in last season’s loss to Oregon, Medlock
made sure not to miss his opportunity. “I was pumped,”
said Medlock, who had two field goals Saturday, one of 52 yards and
one of 50 yards. “The whole year I’ve been waiting for
this game after last year when I missed two.” In a game that
saw many players make important contributions, there were few
individuals more valuable than Medlock, who has now made 14 of 17
field goals on the season. After missing his first attempt, a
50-yarder on the Bruins’ first drive, the sophomore came back
to drill his next two. His first field goal put UCLA up by 14,
while his second helped seal the game by upping his team’s
lead to eight. “The kick to go up by eight points, that was
big,” coach Karl Dorrell said. “That’s just great
execution in a tough arena.” Perhaps the most amazing thing
about that final field goal is that Medlock didn’t even think
he would be called on to kick it. After an 11-yard gain by Chris
Markey took the ball to the UCLA 32-yard line, Dorrell called upon
his kicker. “We had to get in field goal range,”
Dorrell said. “I felt good about Justin. I made a couple of
calls where I said, “˜Hey, we’re going to kick
it,’ and he gave me the big eyes like, “˜Are we
sure?'” “My gut instinct was that I knew he was
going to be on. He had a great pre-game, and I rode his back
today.” After the Bruins took a timeout, Medlock stepped up
and coolly knocked the ball through the uprights. “I
didn’t even know we were kicking a field goal on that second
one,” said Medlock, who became the first kicker in school
history to make two kicks of 50 yards or more in the same game.
“(Dorrell) said field goal, and I was like, “˜Oh,
shoot,’ and I ran out there and just tried to kill
it.”
PLAYING SMART: After Saturday’s game,
coaches and players agreed that a large factor in the Bruins’
win was the play of quarterback Drew Olson. Olson made smart
decisions throughout the course of the game, tucking the ball to
run when it was there and throwing no interceptions. The junior
finished 12 of 22 for 215 yards, one touchdown and 39 net yards
rushing. “He’s coming into his own,” Dorrell
said. “He made some decisions today where things
weren’t open down the field and he made plays with his feet.
That’s what you want your quarterback to do.” The most
noticeable change in Olson’s game from earlier in the season
is his newfound willingness to run the ball. “Instead of
throwing a ball I’m not quite sure of, if there’s a lot
of running room, shoot, I’ll take 10 yards any day,”
Olson said.
MISSING IN ACTION: Take away your leading
rusher. Now take away your leading receiver. Now try to win. The
Bruins amazingly accomplished all three Saturday, getting the job
done without tailback Maurice Drew and with only limited action
from tight end Marcedes Lewis. Both sustained injuries last week
against Washington State. Drew sat out the whole game with a
sprained ankle, while Lewis, who is still suffering from a bruised
tailbone, was only in for a handful of plays. “I’m
hurting, but I’m happy,” Lewis said. “We’ve
got time to rest up, so I feel good right now.” While Drew
and Lewis have been a major part of the Bruins’ success this
season, the story Saturday was not about them. “Those are two
of our better players, but we have other players who will fill in
and step it up,” said tailback Manuel White. In other injury
news, tailback Derrick Williams sustained a concussion Saturday and
stayed the night in Oregon to undergo tests. Linebacker Benjamin
Lorier also sustained a concussion, but he traveled home with the
team.
NOTES: With five returns on Saturday, receiver
Tab Perry set the UCLA all-time record for kickoff returns. His
five returns against Oregon give him 71 for his career. … The
Bruins’ win snapped a four-game losing streak against the
Ducks. … Linebacker Justin London led the Bruins with 10 tackles
Saturday.