PASADENA “”mdash; Beleaguered for weeks after giving up chunks of
yards in the running game, UCLA’s defense had a simple goal
Saturday: Prove to everyone they were better than the performances
they had given in the last couple of weeks.
If you look at the statistics, UCLA didn’t accomplish its
goal, allowing the Beavers 511 yards of total offense and 199 yards
receiving to Beaver wide receiver Mike Hass.
But for the Bruins, the numbers were meaningless.
“We know we are not going to be one of those defenses that
holds people to under 100 yards a game,” junior linebacker
Spencer Hanver said. “In the Pac-10, its not realistic. We
just want to be a defense that is opportunistic, and can make big
plays when we need to.”
In the game, the Bruins did exactly that. After allowing the
Beavers to drive the ball down the field for 80 yards on four
plays, the Bruins allowed zero first downs the rest of the first
quarter, helping the Bruins get the lead early for the first time
in four games.
The Bruins came up with two interceptions and one forced fumble
and helped the team stay No. 1 in the Pac-10 in turnover ratio. The
bulk of the Beavers’ yardage did not come until the second
half, when the Bruins had already taken control of the game.
“I thought our defense played very well overall,”
UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “There were a few
times that we allowed them to have big plays, but in the scheme of
things, the defense was in solid control of the game.”
Beaver quarterback Matt Moore, who came into the game averaging
321.8 yards passing per game, was limited to 279 yards passing.
More importantly, the Bruins were able to limit all the Beavers
receivers, except for Hass, to less than 40 yards. In comparison,
the Bruins had four players with over 40 yards receiving.
“We knew that Hass would be the focus of their
offense,” senior safety Jarrad Page said. “Our goal was
just to limit everyone else, and I think we did that.”
BEN OLSON MAKES APPEARANCE: Redshirt freshman Ben Olson made his
first appearance as a Bruin with over six minutes left in the
fourth quarter. The Bruins ran running plays on most of his snaps,
but in the one opportunity he had to throw, the Bruins ran the
wrong formation, and his pass oversailed the receiver in the end
zone.
“It was cool just to get out there; it felt like I was in
high school all over again,” Olson said. “On my one
play to throw, we ran the wrong play, but it was still fun to be
out there nonetheless.”
INJURY UPDATE: Offensive tackle Brian Abraham came down with a
102 degree fever on Thursday and was sick in bed all day Friday.
The illness prevented him from starting Saturday’s game, and
sophomore Noah Sutherland started in his place.
Also going down on the offensive line was center Mike McCloskey,
who suffered a sprained right shoulder midway through the first
quarter. His replacement, redshirt freshman Aaron Meyer, received
his first extensive playing time, and did an admirable job.
“Those guys really stepped up when we needed them
to,” offensive coordinator Tom Cable said. “It was
helpful that we had veterans like Robert (Cleary) and Ed (Blanton)
to help them out on both sides.”
On the other side of the line, defensive tackle Kenneth Lombard
suffered a sprained ankle and did not return. Cable said he hopes
Lombard will be able to return for next week.
In addition, wide receiver Marcus Everett sprained his left knee
in the first quarter, and returned in a limited role.
“I felt something crack in my knee, but it was not as bad
as I originally thought,” Everett said. “I will be fine
for next week.”
EXTRA POINTS: Saturday’s attendance of 49,932 was the
lowest for any Pac-10 home game the last two seasons, and the
second-lowest for the Bruins this season. Maurice Drew set a UCLA
record for punt return average in a single season with 401,
breaking Paul Guidry’s record of 377 in 1995. His 16th
touchdown this season on Saturday gave him 40 for his career and
tied him for fourth on UCLA’s all-time list with Gary
Beban.