Maddox Rallies UCLA Over WSU : Bruins: They overcome 20-10 lead on road as freshman stays cool in second half and Brian Brown rushes for 125 yards.

Quarterback Tommy Maddox led his second second-half comeback in three weeks as UCLA defeated Washington State, 30-20, in a Pacific 10 Conference game Saturday night at Martin Stadium.

Maddox, a redshirt freshman who had sparked a 32-31 victory over Stanford two weeks ago, found Sean LaChapelle in the end zone for a 19-yard scoring play with eight minutes to go to give the Bruins a 23-20 lead as they overcame a 20-10 deficit.

Two plays after the kickoff, UCLA’s Roman Phifer intercepted a pass by Brad Gossen at the Washington State 30. UCLA was in the end zone in seven plays, with Kaleaph Carter going the final yard.

Brian Brown gained 125 yards in 37 carries and scored a touchdown as the Bruins took over the Pac-10 lead with a 2-0 record. They are 2-2 overall. Washington State fell to 2-3 overall, 1-1 in the Pac-10.

UCLA scored on its first possession, after Scott Miller stunned the Cougars with a 47-yard punt return.

Miller was playing for the first time this season. He suffered a broken collarbone after only three days of fall practice.

Miller avoided some Cougars after he caught the ball and then went down the sideline before he was knocked out of bounds at the Cougar 20-yard line.

On third and five at the WSU 15, Maddox, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 273 yards, threw a bullet pass to Reggie Moore for a first down at the five.

The Bruins were soon confronted with a third and goal at the eight after a false-start penalty. Then, on a draw play, Brown blasted up the middle for a touchdown. Brad Daluiso kicked the extra point and the Bruins led, 7-0, with 10:49 left in the first quarter.

UCLA reached the Washington State 33 on its next possession, where Daluiso attempted a 50-yard field goal. He had the distance, but the ball was wide.

Early in the second quarter, Jason Hanson kicked a 22-yard field goal after a short Cougar drive stalled at the UCLA five. Courtney Keyler’s 23-yard punt that went out of bounds at the UCLA 34 gave WSU its favorable field position.

The Cougars took the lead on their next possession, driving 63 yards in six plays to a touchdown.

Shaumbe Wright-Fair went the final 13 yards, shedding several Bruin tacklers on the way.

The drive was sustained when Gossen threw a 24-yard pass to Augustin Olobia at the UCLA 19. UCLA’s Eric Turner smashed into him and Olobia fumbled, but receiver Calvin Griggs recovered for the Cougars.

At this juncture of the game, the Bruin offense was stuttering. And, after Maddox was sacked for an eight-yard loss on third and 12 from his 47, UCLA was forced to punt.

Later in the quarter, Maddox’s pass intended for Reggie Moore was intercepted by senior free safety John Diggs, who went 72 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

Maddox chased Diggs for a while, then Miller dove at his heels and missed at the 11.

After the extra point, the Cougars improved their lead to 17-7.

Late in the second quarter, Maddox threw a 31-yard pass to LaChapelle and the Cougars were also assessed a face-mask penalty, giving UCLA a first down at the 11.

However, UCLA had to settle for Daluiso’s 27-yard field goal. The first half ended 47 seconds later, but not before Hanson’s 62-yard field goal attempt was short.

Early in the third quarter, Hanson kicked a 54-yard goal to improve WSU’s lead to 20-10. A 30-yard punt return by Phillip Bobo put the Cougars in position. Daluiso’s field goal made it 20-13.