Moore Has Slight Edge Over Olson

Matt Moore has edged ahead of Drew Olson in the UCLA quarterback competition, and Olson is almost out of time to recover before Coach Karl Dorrell names a starter for the opener Sept. 6 against Colorado.

Picked to start Saturday’s scrimmage with the first team because he had a stronger week in practice, Moore directed a touchdown drive on the first possession and a field-goal drive on his second, displaying a strong arm and poise under pressure.

Though the two sophomore quarterbacks’ statistics were similar, Moore looked clearly superior until he had a pass intercepted late in the scrimmage.

“It probably humbled him a little bit, so that’s good,” said offensive coordinator Steve Axman, who suggested to Dorrell that Moore should start despite talk of a coin flip.

After the scrimmage, Dorrell acknowledged Moore is in “the driver’s seat.”

Moore completed eight of 11 passes for 118 yards with one interception.

Olson completed six of nine for 144 and directed two field-goal drives, even though he got one less series with the first team offense than Moore did.

After starting the final five games last season and taking the lead out of spring practice, Olson appears to be on the verge of beginning the season as second string.

“It’s very disappointing, obviously [if that happens],” he said. “I worked hard and put a lot of time and effort into this, trying to start.”

Few believe the naming of a starter is the end of the competition between Olson and Moore, however, with the other sure to come in if the starter falters.

If Olson is to mount a comeback, it needs to be immediate, even though Dorrell and Axman said they aren’t inclined to name a starter yet.

“Not to the point where we’re saying, ‘OK, you’re the No. 1 guy and you’re going to take 75% of the reps,’ ” Axman said. “No, they’re too close. I think if anything we might say, ‘Well, one guy’s in the lead, we’re going to go 60-40 or something.’ Because it’s still too close.”

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The other standouts were sophomore tight end Marcedes Lewis, who clicked with Moore and caught three passes for 71 yards, and freshman running back Maurice Drew, who rushed for 45 yards in 11 carries. New kicker Justin Medlock, a redshirt freshman, made field goals of 35, 30 and 21 yards.