It Could Be Too Close to Call

If there is a sure thing about Saturday’s matchup between UCLA and Washington, the outcome won’t be decided early. And don’t expect a blowout, either. Both teams have had their share of close encounters.

Except for an 11-point victory over Alabama, all of UCLA’s victories have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Bruins are averaging 30 points a game and are giving up 30.4 points a game. And they have trailed after the first quarter of every game.

The seventh-ranked Huskies have won six games by a touchdown or less. Five times Washington has trailed in the fourth quarter and rallied to win.

“Neither one of us are fast starters and we’re both fast finishers,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “Washington has scored 130 points and given up only 61 in the fourth quarter. We’re only taking 60 players, and I’ve told them it’s 60 players for 60 minutes.

“You never know, it could be 13-10 or something. But in this conference, I doubt it.”

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Lost in the shadow of Freddie Mitchell’s spectacular year, receiver Brian Poli-Dixon is quietly putting together a good season after sitting out nearly all of 1999 because of a broken wrist.

The redshirt junior is second on the team with 36 receptions for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He knows he’s not the first option for quarterback Cory Paus, but--as his eight-catch, 107-yard effort against Arizona State demonstrates--he can be dangerous if the secondary spends all its efforts on shutting down Mitchell.

“Great players make great plays and Freddie’s making a lot of plays out there,” Poli-Dixon said. “I wish stat-wise I was doing a little better, but my main focus is on trying to win games. I’ll do what I can do and not go around complain about getting the ball enough.”

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Toledo said running back DeShaun Foster (toe) and lineman Rusty Williams (shoulder) will start Saturday. Linemen Sean Phillips (ankle) and Ken Kocher (knee) and cornerback Jason Bell (heel) will make the trip but play only if needed. Among those Bruins not going to Seattle are lineman Anthony Fletcher (shoulder), safety Jason Stephens (hamstring), defensive back Ryan Wikert (hamstring) and quarterback Ryan McCann, who underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.