Fullbacks Get the Ball

Fullback is an equal-opportunity position at UCLA. Not only do Ed Ieremia-Stansbury and Matt Stanley split playing time, they are taking turns getting their hands on the football.

Last week it was Ieremia-Stansbury scoring a touchdown and equaling his season total of 2000 with five carries.

Against Kansas it was Stanley rambling for 11 yards in the first quarter and catching a pass for an 18-yard gain in the second quarter that led to UCLA’s first field goal in a 41-17 victory Saturday.

He finished with four carries for 22 yards, which was four and 22 more than last season. Although Stanley played about half the time last season, he had not carried the ball since 1999.

“I think it was against Oregon State, but it’s been so long I can’t really remember,” he said.

Stanley, a fifth-year senior, also caught a 19-yard pass in the end zone, but a penalty nullified it.

“Both Ed and I do a good job of carrying and catching the ball,” he said. “I love blocking, but it’s nice to get that call in the huddle too.”

Ieremia-Stansbury suffered a mild ankle sprain in the second quarter and Stanley played the rest of the way.

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Free of penalties and turnovers at Alabama, UCLA didn’t take long to end any chance of a repeat.

Illegal motion was called on the first play from scrimmage and the Bruins were penalized 12 times for 81 yards in the game.

The Bruins’ first turnover was a fumble by quarterback Cory Paus as he cocked his arm to pass six minutes into the game. Paus also fumbled while trying to pass in the second quarter. The Bruins committed three turnovers in the game.

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UCLA didn’t have to worry long about containing Jayhawk receiver Harrison Hill, who has 108 career receptions. Hill suffered a broken shoulder blade during Kansas’ first offensive series.

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Coach Bob Toledo gave the game ball to associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson, a Kansas alumna who grew up in nearby Emporia.