Leisle Has Stress Fracture

One Bruin didn’t have a spring in his step after the victory over Oregon State.

Defensive tackle Rodney Leisle was hobbling on crutches. He suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and is expected to be sidelined for several games.

The foot had been bothering him for a couple weeks.

“It was a stress reaction to begin with and I finally broke it,” he said.

Sean Phillips and Ryan Boschetti will replace Leisle, who is considered the Bruins’ best defensive lineman.

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Leisle won’t be the only Bruin defensive lineman sitting out when the game against Oregon begins next Saturday.

Dave Ball was ejected with 8:56 to play after throwing a punch at an Oregon State player.

Under Pacific 10 Conference rules, Ball, a junior who leads the Bruins with three sacks, must sit out the first half against Oregon.

“We have to do a better job of keeping our poise,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “Football is an emotional game, but there is a line you can’t cross.”

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Mike Saffer did not inform coaches until about an hour before the game that he could play despite having a broken rib. But in his heart, he’d known all week.

Saffer, a Bruin senior, played every snap at right tackle.

“I felt all week I’d play,” he said. “I knew from the word go.”

He played well, helping the Bruins rack up 625 yards, but lost his cool once. He was flagged for a personal foul after retaliating against linebacker Richard Seigler. “The guy gave me a shot to the ribs,” Saffer said. “I didn’t like that.”

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Manuel White, making his first start at tailback this season, suffered a strained hamstring in the first quarter and left after gaining seven yards in five carries.

White also caught a screen pass, turning it into a 28-yard play.

Akil Harris, the starting tailback in the first four games this season, wasn’t the choice to take over after White left the game.

Instead, Tyler Ebell carried the bulk of the load and Harris got only 12 carries, picking up 25 yards and scoring two short touchdowns.

“I didn’t know what was up. But when they called my number I was in there,” Harris said.

He didn’t help his cause when he fumbled inside the 20 with just over two minutes left. Oregon State’s Noah Happe returned the fumble for a touchdown that cut the lead to eight.

“Just a feeling of disbelief,” said Harris, whose feeling turned to relief after the Bruins recovered Oregon State’s onside kick and held on to win.

“Akil scored two touchdowns and did some nice things,” Toledo said. “I wish he hadn’t fumbled. He just needs to focus more. He’ll [continue to] play.”