Maynard breaks out for Bears

Zach Maynard has weathered a couple of tough seasons as California’s quarterback.

This season alone, he was sacked six times by Ohio State, nine by USC and seven by Arizona State.

And it’s a good thing he is a nifty runner too, or it would have been worse.

He entered Saturday’s game at UCLA with five touchdowns, four passes thrown for interceptions, and a pass efficiency rating that put him at No. 94 in the nation.

After Cal’s 43-17 victory, he’ll be moving up.

Against the Bruins, Maynard was simply electrifying, equaling a career high with four touchdown passes and also running for a score.

The senior left-hander completed 25 of 30 passes for 295 yards, with one pass intercepted, and also scored on a one-yard sneak that put the game away midway through the fourth quarter.

Maynard’s touchdown passes equaled his performance in an overtime victory against Colorado last season.

Defensive end gets the call on offense

Defensive end Cassius Marsh became the second UCLA defensive player to catch a touchdown pass this season.

Marsh, playing in the Bruins’ short-yardage package against California on Saturday, swung into the flat and caught a four-yard pass from Brett Hundley to give UCLA a 7-0 lead.

Defensive end Datone Jones caught a seven-yard touchdown pass against Houston on Sept. 15.

Jones, though, leads in overall scoring among defensive players. He had a safety against Nebraska.

Marsh also blocked a point-after in the first half against Cal and recovered a fumble in the second half.

Freshman Fuller debuts at receiver

Freshman Devin Fuller, who came to UCLA as a quarterback, had an inauspicious debut as a wide receiver.

He was pressed into service after Devin Lucien suffered a broken collarbone against Colorado last week.

Fuller touched the ball -- briefly -- for the first time in a college game in the second quarter: He dropped a lateral to kill a Bruins drive.

California’s Nick Forbes recovered the ball at the Bears’ 33-yard line.

Kicking woes

Ka’imi Fairbairn hooked a 46-yard field-goal attempt that would have tied the score, 10-10, in the second quarter. It was his third miss in as many attempts.

He has missed all three of his kicks from 40 or more yards this season.

Fairbairn, a true freshman, has had no problems at that distance during practice.

“We preach that every kick is the same,” punter Jeff Locke said. “I don’t want him to go out for a long one and change his technique.”

Fairbairn, who was eight of 12 on field-goal attempts entering the game, made one of two against Cal, converting from 29 yards out early in the fourth quarter. His longest this season is has been 35 yards.

“He’s in a tough spot,” Locke said. “There are not very many true freshmen who can come in and do what he’s doing right now.”

Franklin in triple digits again

Johnathan Franklin ran for 103 yards in 15 carries, his fifth 100-yard-plus rushing effort in six games.

Only Oregon State held Franklin to less than triple digits.

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