Green Scores Three Touchdowns to Lead UCLA Over Cal, 42-18

Gaston Green rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns, and Dennis Price returned an interception 100 yards for another score Saturday at the Rose Bowl, helping No. 8-ranked UCLA stay atop the Pacific 10 Conference standings with a 42-18 victory over California.

The Bruins, 4-0 in the conference and 6-1 overall, lead USC by one game in the race for the Rose Bowl. Cal dropped to 0-2-1 in the conference and 1-5-1 overall.

Green’s touchdowns gave him a career total of 37--a school record. Green, who carried 28 times, sprinted 79 yards for a touchdown, raced 4 yards for another and also caught a 7-yard scoring pass from Troy Aikman. Price’s return tied a UCLA mark for distance established last season by Alan Dial.

UCLA’s other points came on Aikman’s scoring throws of 46 yards to Paco Craig and 15 yards to Mike Farr. Aikman completed 15 of 22 passes for 236 yards.

Cal scored on Charles Carter’s 1-yard run, Troy Taylor’s 7-yard pass to Michael Smith and Robbie Keen’s 36-yard field goal. Taylor was 21 of 35 for 312 yards.

The Bears closed to 21-18 1:45 into the third quarter on Taylor’s TD pass to the back of the end zone and a two-point conversion. But Aikman engineered touchdown drives of 80 and 61 yards to put the game out of reach.

UCLA, backed to its 2-yard line following a 62-yard punt by Scott Tabor, went 98 yards for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Green carried on three of the first four plays, then darted through the line and down the left sideline untouched for his 79-yard score.

The Bruins moved to a 14-0 advantage with 2:14 left in the quarter on Green’s 4-yard run. The Bears closed to 14-3 on the second play of the second period when Keen kicked a 36-yard field goal.

Cal drove to the Bruins 14 late in the quarter. On fourth-and-1, Taylor missed badly on a pass intended for Ernie Rogers and Price intercepted 3 yards deep in the end zone. After a moment of hesitation, Price took off down the left sideline and outraced fullback Donald Nobles to the goal line.

The Bears went 74 yards in five plays, capping the march with Carter’s 1-yard run that made it 21-10 with 34 seconds to go in the half.