Paus Gets Another Chance at Redemption Versus USC

Cory Paus takes losses hard, maybe too hard. Some quarterbacks mimic their coaches and say they cannot evaluate their performance until they look at the game films. Paus needs no replays, except the ones in his mind, to blame himself for sacks, interceptions and missed receivers.

The scoreboard read Washington 35, UCLA 28. After the game Saturday, Paus pinned the Bruins’ loss on one player.

“I lost the game,” he said. “If the quarterback plays bad, we’re not going to win.”

All losses hurt, but this one stung deeper than usual. He had been looking forward to this game for a year, Paus said, to the chance to finish off the Huskies. In last year’s 23-20 victory over Washington, Paus suffered a broken collarbone.

That injury prevented Paus from playing against USC last season. He had no chance to start against, let alone finish off, the Trojans.

What mission could be more important for a UCLA quarterback? The Bruins play USC this Saturday, and Paus is not injured.

“I’m just excited to be able to play in the game,” he said.

This will be the third UCLA-USC game for Paus, but the first in which he will play. He was a redshirt two years ago.

This will be the fifth UCLA-USC game for team captain Oscar Cabrera, a three-year starter along the offensive line.

“It’s still kind of weird to think next week is my last game,” Cabrera said.

This will be the 10th UCLA-USC game for Coach Bob Toledo. His luck ran out last year.

Toledo was an assistant coach at USC from 1976-78. The Trojans beat the Bruins in each of those years.

He was an assistant coach at UCLA in 1994-95, and the Bruins beat the Trojans both years. And, after succeeding Terry Donahue as the Bruins’ head coach, Toledo led the Bruins to three more victories over the Trojans before a 17-7 loss last year.

Nonetheless, Bruins smile. Any guy who can go 8-1 in such a heated rivalry is a guy you want coaching your side in the rivalry.

“I’m looking forward to ‘SC. It’s always a classic rivalry,” Toledo said.

“We lost last year, but we’ve got them at our place this year. And it will be the last time for 24 seniors to walk down that tunnel. We’re excited.”

There is a big blue sign just inside the entrance to the Spaulding Field, where the Bruins practice. It is a tribute to success. It is also a daily reminder of that loss last season.

The sign reads “CITY CHAMPIONS.” The years follow below, in order . . . 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.

Can the Bruins start a new streak for the new century?

The Bruins entered last year’s game with an offense, and an offensive line in particular, wrecked by injury. During the last three weeks of last season, the Bruins used nine starters along the offensive line. Ryan McCann replaced the injured Paus and, in the first start of his career, he was sacked six times and threw three interceptions.

The Bruins enter this year’s game with a defense, and a defensive line in particular, wrecked by injury. During the past five weeks, the Bruins have used eight starters along the defensive line. Their best linebacker, Robert Thomas, is trying to play as a stress fracture in his foot heals.

Washington ran for 349 yards Saturday, including 127 from starting tailback Rich Alexis and 99 from backup Willie Hurst. The Trojans’ resurgent running game, featuring Sultan McCullough and Chad Pierson, will provide a serious challenge to the Bruins.

The Bruins will counter with tailback DeShaun Foster and hope he can sustain enough drives to keep the defense fresh. The Huskies ran 21 more plays than UCLA and had the ball for 39 minutes to the Bruins’ 21.

In last year’s USC game, Foster ran 17 times for 59 yards, each one a struggle because of the patchwork offensive line. In the Bruins’ 34-17 victory over USC two years ago, Foster tied a school record by scoring four touchdowns. He ran 15 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns, and he also caught a scoring pass.

The Bruins ought to hope Foster is fresh too. He has carried 53 times in the past two weeks, accounting for every UCLA rushing attempt except scrambles by Paus. Foster’s backup, Akil Harris, has not carried in three weeks.