UCLA (2-0) SEASON SUMMARY
UCLA 30, Colorado State 19
Head coach Bob Toledo said that it might take a couple of
quarters for the Bruins to shake off the rust in their first game,
whereas the Rams were entering their third game of the season. Try
three quarters and 18 seconds.
Colorado State quickly jumped out to a 10-0 lead, capitalizing
on a sputtering offense and a missed field goal by Chris Griffith.
However, UCLA quickly responded with freshman Junior Taylor’s
49-yard end-around reverse, pulling UCLA to 10-7. The Rams added a
field goal before the half, and they maintained their 13-7 lead
into the fourth quarter. However, the UCLA offense awoke, and with
freshman Drew Olson at the helm, the Bruins drove fifty-two yards
as Akil Harris scored the touchdown on a sweep.
On the next series, cornerback Ricky Manning delivered a blow to
Ram running back Cecil Sapp, forcing him to fumble a screen pass,
and defensive end Rusty Williams recovered. On the next play,
Manuel White ran for a 16-yard touchdown, making it 21-13.
Colorado State scored and decided to go for the two-point
conversion, with the score 21-19. However, Ram quarterback Bradlee
Van Pelt’s option pitch missed its intended target, and
safety Ben Emanuel picked up the loose ball and ran it back for two
points for the Bruins.
In all, UCLA ran for 215 yards while the defense held the Rams
to 98 total passing yards. Linebacker Brandon Chillar had a stellar
night, with 10 tackles and an interception, earning Pac-10
Defensive Player of the Week honors.
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UCLA 38, Oklahoma State 24
The Bruins strolled into Stillwater, OK, and promptly fell
behind 10-0 again. This time, UCLA responded with an aerial attack,
as quarterback Cory Paus threw a 41-yard rainbow to wide receiver
Craig Bragg in the first quarter. On the next series, linebacker
Spencer Havner picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown,
giving UCLA a 14-10 lead that it would not relinquish.
Toward the end of the first half, Paus connected with tight end
Mike Seidman to give UCLA a 24-10 lead entering the intermission.
Paus opened his first offensive series of the second half with a
25-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Ryan Smith, giving UCLA a
31-10 lead. With their outstanding receiver corps, however, the
Cowboys kept battling back.
Biletnikoff candidate Rashaun Woods scored on a seven-yard
reception, but UCLA responded with a methodical drive ““ its
first of the game in which it successfully and consistently rushed
the ball. It culminated in a three-yard rushing touchdown by
Paus.
While the Cowboys were able to tack on one more touchdown, they
were not able to get any closer than 14 points as UCLA improved to
2-0 on the year. Paus finished with 277 passing yards, while
Emanuel had his second consecutive good game with two interceptions
on the night.
-Bruce Tran
For coverage of the Sept. 21 game against Colorado, go to
dailybruin.ucla.edu