Foster Looks for Comfort Zone

The goal is a modest one for tailback DeShaun Foster.

“I’ll be excited if I can go into next week’s game with two hands,” he said.

For the last two games, Foster has played with a splint and heavy wrapping protecting a right hand that was broken one month ago. As the weeks go by, the hand will require less protection, but for now Foster carries the ball only with his left hand.

“Even limited, he’s still better than three-quarters of the Pac-10,” receiver Brian Poli-Dixon said.

On the Bruins’ two touchdown drives in the first quarter of Saturday’s 27-24 victory at Arizona, Foster ran 10 times for 45 yards. He finished with 28 carries and 79 yards.

That was no sign of diminishing effectiveness on Foster’s part. Arizona’s unconventional defense limited the number of running plays the Bruins were willing to call, Coach Bob Toledo said. So, as the game wore on, the Wildcats could stop the UCLA running plays because they already had seen them all.

The Bruins, ranked last in the conference in rushing average, gained 54 yards in 39 carries Saturday and have gained fewer than 100 rushing yards in four of their past five games.

*

Oregon, Oregon State and Washington--in whatever order--appear likely to finish as the top three teams in the Pac-10.

Unless the bowl championship series takes a second Pac-10 team, in addition to the Rose Bowl representative, that would appear to leave UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State competing for the final two guaranteed Pac-10 bowl berths, the Aloha and Oahu bowls.

Arizona (3-2) has the best conference record, but UCLA (2-3) and Arizona State (2-3) have easier schedules.

The Wildcats close their regular season against Washington, Oregon State and Arizona State, while UCLA and Arizona State each play two of the final three games against Stanford and USC.

NEXT UP FOR UCLA

WHO: Stanfordd

WHERE: Rose Bowl

WHEN: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 9

RADIO: KXTA (1150)