Michigan’s Vaughn: One for Bruin Book : College football: Wolverines win, 38-15, when he rushes for 288 yards, most ever against UCLA.

Michigan tailback Jon Vaughn ran into the record book Saturday. Unfortunately, for UCLA, it was the opponents’ section.

Vaughn, a 200-pound sophomore with speed and power, gained 288 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Wolverines overpowered the Bruins, 38-15.

USC’s Marcus Allen held the previous UCLA opponent’s rushing record of 219 yards set in 1981.

Vaughn became the first Michigan back to rush for 200 or more yards in consecutive games after gaining 201 yards against Notre Dame a week ago.

The game had a simple scenario: Vaughn getting huge chunks of yardage behind Michigan’s massive offensive line, and UCLA countering with the passing of Tommy Maddox, the redshirt freshman quarterback.

Maddox, who completed 26 of 47 passes for 353 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions, kept UCLA in the game until the fourth quarter.

The Bruins fell behind, 21-0, in the first half, rallied to trail 28-15 at halftime and missed scoring opportunities in the third quarter.

“Michigan was the superior team,” UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said, “but, in all candor, I thought we were going to win up until the last six minutes.

“But we didn’t get the ball back and time was running out. Either through our misfire or Michigan’s good play, they were able to squelch every opportunity we had.”

A key play occurred in the fourth quarter with Michigan leading, 31-15.

UCLA had a first down at the Michigan 13-yard line. Fullback Kevin Smith gained three yards and then lost five. A pass by Maddox to Smith gained only three yards and, on fourth down, Maddox was pressured while trying to throw.

While twisting in the grasp of defensive tackle Chris Hutchinson, Maddox threw the ball backward. It was ruled a fumble. UCLA tackle Craig Novitsky picked up the ball, hesitated and then went out of bounds at the 32, a loss of 20 yards and the ball.

On second down, with 4:43 left to play, Vaughn hit the middle, bounced to the outside and ran 63 yards to a touchdown.

Earlier, Vaughn had scored on runs of one and 23 yards. He set the tone of the game on the first play by breaking tackles on a 43-yard run.

UCLA redshirt freshman Travis Collier, replacing injured strong safety Matt Darby, grabbed air while trying to tackle Vaughn on the play. Other Bruins would react similarly as the game went on.

Asked to comment on gaining 489 yards in two games, Vaughn said: “It was really unbelievable because of the quality of the teams we’re playing.

“For some reason I felt more pressure today than I did against Notre Dame. This was the home opener for us, and everybody here was still saying that we had to find a tailback. I wanted to show them that I had what it takes.”

Vaughn, who grew up in Florissant, Mo., played behind Tony Boles last year. His best day in 1989 was four carries for 26 yards.

UCLA players were impressed.

“He’s a strong runner,” defensive end Mike Chalenski said. “You get the first hit on him, and he kept his legs moving and driving. That’s what impressed me the most.”

While Vaughn was running through the Bruins, Maddox, operating mostly out of a shotgun formation, was trying to keep his team in the game.

“Tommy is inexperienced, but he’ll get better,” Donahue said. “He showed good poise and courage the whole day. Except for one or two balls, he had a good game.”

Donahue was referring to a tipped pass that was intercepted by cornerback Lance Dottin when UCLA was threatening from the Michigan 18 in the third quarter; and a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Erick Anderson when the Bruins had a first down at the Michigan 28 in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t take advantage of some opportunities, and they capitalized on it,” said Maddox, who was making his first start as UCLA’s quarterback. “However, Michigan is a great team.”

On the second interception, Maddox said he didn’t see Anderson on the pass intended for wide receiver Reggie Moore.

“I felt I did some good things, but I also made some key mistakes,” said Maddox, who rallied UCLA to a 32-31 victory over Stanford a week ago while playing only in the second half.

Maddox, 19, wouldn’t use youth and inexperience as excuses.

“I’ve been playing quarterback all my life,” he said. “I just made some bad decisions.”

On the subject of decisions, Donahue was irate about a holding call that preceded Maddox’s first interception in the third quarter.

The Bruins were threatening from the Michigan eight when they were cited for holding on second down.

“It was an all Big Ten crew,” Donahue said. “I thought it was a major part of the game, because if we had scored it would have been 28-22, and you’re looking at a different scenario.”

Nonetheless, Michigan still had Vaughn and an offensive line that averages 290 pounds, with tackle Greg Skrepenak bolstering that average at 322 pounds.

“It’s as physical an offensive line as I can ever remember, and it’s unusual because of its size,” Donahue said.

And Michigan has an unusual tailback.

UCLA Notes

It was Gary Moeller’s first victory as Michigan’s coach, replacing the legendary Bo Schembechler, and Moeller was given the game ball. . . . UCLA is 1-2, Michigan 1-1. . . . Tommy Maddox threw a nine-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Reggie Moore in the first half and fullback Kevin Smith ran 47 yards to a touchdown on a dive play on third and one. . . . Michigan had 595 yards in total offense.

Michigan free safety Vada Murray on Maddox: “He’s still young, but he gives UCLA a Troy Aikman-style quarterback.” . . . Terry Donahue said his team’s running game is terrible (the Bruins had 44 net yards rushing), but added that his team has been playing catch-up the first three games, depending on the passing game. . . . Michigan had 356 yards in total offense at halftime. Quarterback Elvis Grbac completed his first eight passes but wound up nine of 15 for 120 yards with one interception. . . . Michigan drove 80, 76, 80, 62 and 63 yards for its touchdowns.