Another week, another improbable comeback win of mammoth
proportions for the Bruins.
In a season defined by its last-minute heroics, UCLA had no more
dramatic or important victory of the season after traveling to Palo
Alto and beating Stanford 30-27 in overtime Saturday night.
With a fading pass through the Bay Area sky that gingerly came
down in the corner of the end zone, sophomore wide receiver Brandon
Breazell caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback
Drew Olson in overtime after the Bruins scored 21 points in the
final 7:04 of regulation to stun the Cardinal crowd and keep intact
an unlikely perfect season.
Olson, whose flare for the dramatic this season might just put
him in legendary status among the UCLA faithful, engineered the
comeback with two touchdown passes after playing the first three
and a half quarters without any success. Junior running back
Maurice Drew once again was a key player in the game, as his
combination of run and catch produced a pair of touchdowns.
When senior fullback Nick Frank scored a 7-yard touchdown run
with just 8:26 left in the fourth quarter, the Bruins’
chances seemed all but done while the Cardinal’s fans
appeared ready to celebrate an upset. It was 24-3 at the time, and
UCLA needed more than just a spark. But the Bruins once again
showed that they might not be the most dominant team in the country
(especially during the first three quarters of a game), however,
they might be the most clutch when the pressure is on.
With a series of screen passes to Drew and short slants to
sophomore wide receiver Marcus Everett and senior tight end
Marcedes Lewis, Olson led his team down the field for a quick
strike to make it 24-10. After holding Stanford to a quick
three-and-out, UCLA got the ball back with just over five minutes
to play. The Olson-to-Drew dump-off passes continued to work, and
Olson found junior wide receiver Joe Cowan for a 31-yard touchdown
to make it a seven-point game with 4:43 left.
The Bruins again forced the staunchly conservative Cardinal, who
were satisfied with bland runs in the middle to drain the clock, to
punt. Olson converted on a dramatic fourth down deep in Stanford
territory.
The next play was a Drew touchdown run which tied the score.
After holding their opponent to a modest field goal in the first
overtime possession, UCLA finished the comeback with Olson’s
game-winning pass to Breazell. Olson ended up completing 24 passes
out of 35 attempts for 293 yards and the two touchdowns while Drew
had 159 yards from scrimmage and his own pair of touchdowns.
Junior defensive end Justin Hickman, leading a defense that
contained Stanford junior quarterback Trend Edwards to 169 yards
passing, recorded three sacks, two of which halted drives in the
fourth quarter and overtime period.
For extended coverage of UCLA’s victory over Stanford, check
out the Daily Bruin on Monday.