Foster’s Injury Still Troublesome

Concern over the condition of DeShaun Foster and his troublesome right ankle carry into a new week after he was limited to a cameo appearance against Arizona State.

The good news for UCLA is that he did not re-injure the lower leg. The bad news is that the first real test of the leg since injuring it Sept. 25 at Stanford proved futile.

“It was just weak really,” Foster said. “That’s it. I couldn’t drive off it.”

Normally the starting tailback, he was only in for part of one series in the third quarter at Tempe, Ariz. Foster carried twice, for no gain each time, and did not return after that. Keith Brown had a career-high 182 yards in his place.

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It’s not just that the Bruins are losing. It’s that they are losing largely because of the work of backup quarterbacks, even third-stringers.

Consider:

* Sept. 11 at Ohio State. Steve Bellisari replaces Austin Moherman and completes 11 of 16 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns as the Buckeyes rally from a 10-0 deficit to win, 42-20.

* Sept. 25 at Stanford. After Todd Husak is hurt, Joe Borchard goes 15 of 19 for 324 yards and five touchdowns in the 42-32 Cardinal victory.

* Oct. 2 at Arizona State: Ryan Kealy aggravates his rib injury and backup John Leonard is removed. The Sun Devils try Griffin Goodman, the walk-on third stringer who throws for 141 yards and two touchdowns, including the short pass that Delvon Flowers turns into the 49-yard score with 23 seconds left for the 28-27 victory.