UCLA defense sees pressure on California quarterback pay off

It pays to have a pass rush.

UCLA defensive players found their way to California quarterback Jared Goff, which had an effect at the end of the Bruins’ 36-34 victory Saturday.

Goff appeared to rush his throw before receiver Chris Harper could break open on the Bears’ last play. UCLA’s Marcus Rios intercepted the pass at the two-yard line with 51 seconds left.

“He was definitely releasing the ball a lot faster because we were putting the pressure on him,” UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa said.

UCLA nearly sacked Goff three times on California’s last drive before the interception. Goff said the last pass “was just not a smart play.”

UCLA, which had seven sacks in six games, had three Saturday. Odighizuwa had one, and he also deflected two other Goff throws. Eric Kendricks and Ellis McCarthy had the other sacks.

“I thought he was feeling us a little more,” UCLA Coach Jim Mora said.

Odighizuwa said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich “dialed up a lot more blitzes.”

Perkins out

UCLA’s most effective weapon Saturday spent the fourth quarter on the sidelines.

Running back Paul Perkins, the Bruins’ leading rusher, left the game with an undisclosed injury. He had 86 yards rushing and caught four passes for 75 yards through three quarters.

Perkins scored twice on screen passes. He went 16 yards in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. He sprinted 49 yards in the second guard to give UCLA a 24-14 halftime lead.

Jordon James and Nate Starks handle the running back duties in the fourth quarter. James finished with 28 yards rushing.

“J.J. came in and gave us some tough yards,” offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said.

None tougher than when James scored on an 11-yard run, carrying two defenders on his back, in the second quarter.

Davis injured

California’s Trevor Davis was carted off the field in the fourth quarter and taken to the hospital after being injured on a kickoff return. Davis was moving his feet while on the ground after the play.

Davis raised his right hand to fans as he was being placed on the cart and as he left Memorial Stadium.

“Trevor was moving his extremities, both his arms and his legs, and was talking,” California Coach Sonny Dykes said. “He said he felt OK. He is going to the hospital, and I’m sure he will get a series of tests run and we will know more. Certainly, the signs from the field looked good.”

Quick hits

Conor McDermott started at left tackle for UCLA, with Malcolm Bunche moving from tackle to left guard. … Mossi Johnson had a 67-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to set up Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 24-yard field goal. Fairbairn also had field goals of 37 and 26 yards. … UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte left the game in the first quarter with a sore hamstring.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes