Bruins Rise Early Again

Easy now.

This is familiar terrain for UCLA, smiling players leaving a sun-washed field to the waves and cheers of family and friends, an early-season victory neatly tucked away.

But these Bruins are equally familiar with the peril ahead. They enjoyed the moment to be sure, reveling in their dismantling of Kansas, 41-17, Saturday before 43,500 at Memorial Stadium, but there was a noticeable absence of bravado.

Once bitten, twice shy.

“We are being more modest about our accomplishments,” cornerback Ricky Manning said. “We know there can be a drop-off if we lose our focus. We know it could happen.”

Two victories is one fewer than UCLA opened with last season. Then came the injuries, the last-minute defeats, the 6-6 record. The Bruins keep those memories neatly tucked away too.

“We have enough seniors and returning starters who know a good thing can be taken away from you real quick,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “They say, ‘Don’t let that happen again,’ all the time.”

To the Bruins, their first blowout victory in more than two years was simply one good day. They’ve won two in a row on the road for the first time since 1998, but a home and Pacific 10 Conference opener next week against Arizona State awaits.

“We were supposed to beat Kansas,” safety Marques Anderson said. “We can enjoy this one for what it is, a strong effort by a lot of guys.”

Starting with DeShaun Foster, who had 179 yards and a touchdown in 28 carries and three receptions for 41 yards. The senior tailback has rushed for 289 yards in two games and his Heisman Trophy campaign is beginning to gain momentum.

“Today it was my line opening huge holes,” he said. “I was going eight yards before they even touched me. I was in the secondary the whole game.”

For the second week in a row, UCLA’s play-calling was as conservative as a money-market account, and Toledo admitted he is keeping much of his portfolio under wraps until Pac-10 games.

“We haven’t opened up the whole playbook,” he said.

The first few pages were enough to befuddle Kansas (1-1). Continually giving the ball to Foster--he had 11 carries in the first quarter--set up two quick-strike touchdowns.

UCLA quarterback Cory Paus faked to the tailback and connected with Tab Perry for a 49-yard pass play to turn the game into a rout, 27-3, late in the second quarter. And another fake to Foster preceded a handoff to Craig Bragg on a reverse that went for a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Both touchdowns came on the first play after a change of possession.

The passing game, dismal in last week’s 20-17 victory over Alabama, improved. Paus completed 10 of 16 for 160 yards but made only two big plays--the touchdown to Perry and a shovel pass to Foster thrown as the quarterback was being tackled that resulted in a 35-yard gain.

Paus was sacked three times and fumbled twice, the Bruins’ first turnovers this season. He did connect with Brian Poli-Dixon, who had no catches and three drops last week, three times for 41 yards.

“I thought I played better than against Alabama,” Paus said. “I was more accurate. I’ll continue to improve.”

Already clicking is the Bruin defense, which held the Jayhawk first string to 37 yards rushing. Kansas had 245 yards in offense and mounted only two lengthy drives, one near the end of the first half and the other in the waning moments against the Bruin third string.

Linebacker Ryan Nece recovered a fumble that led to UCLA’s first touchdown and returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Manning had an interception, his second. Middle linebacker Robert Thomas had nine tackles, Anderson had seven, and Dave Ball, Brandon Chillar, Steve Morgan and Anthony Fletcher each registered sacks.

“The defensive line stayed fresh and a lot of guys played,” Toledo said. “We put pressure on their quarterbacks. Our defensive line really dominated.”

Sophomore Zach Dyer opened at quarterback in Kansas’ no-huddle spread offense. He was ineffective and gave way to freshman Mario Kinsey to begin the second quarter. Kinsey led both touchdown drives but also threw the pass intercepted by Nece.

Tailback Reggie Duncan, who along with Kinsey was suspended last week for their involvement in a purse-snatching incident, had no running room, gaining 16 yards in 11 carries.

The aggressive scheme promised by first-year defensive coordinator Phil Snow has been effective against sluggish Kansas and Alabama. Few assignments have been blown and many players have contributed.

More severe tests loom, but so far, so good.

“Phil brought a whole lot of stability to the defense and simplified a lot of things,” Toledo said. “We are leaving our best people on the field and not making so many adjustments.”

Adjustments. That was the word of the week for the Bruins, who had to reset their internal clocks for the 9:30 a.m. PDT game time. They rose at 4 a.m., had breakfast at 5:30 and handed Kansas its lunch before noon.

“This was one of the most difficult weeks we’ve had,” Toledo said. “We were tired, just exhausted. We tried to get our clocks right. I am very pleased with the outcome.”

Of course, so are the players, who spent several minutes afterward hanging around outside the locker room, accepting congratulations from the 2,000 or so Bruin fans who made the trip.

They just aren’t getting carried away.

“We’re taking everything a little at a time and staying humble,” Foster said. “We need to raise our level of play week to week. Enjoy the victories but keep in mind there is a lot of football to be played.”

Easy now.

It will get difficult soon enough.