Stopping Walter Will Be Tough

It’s a big enough challenge facing Arizona State and quarterback Andrew Walter when your defense is at full strength, but UCLA’s task could be even more difficult tonight because the Bruins’ best pass defender, cornerback Matt Ware, is out because of a sprained left ankle.

Senior Keith Short filled in admirably for Ware against California last week, but containing Arizona State will be a little more difficult than Cal. After a slow start, Walter, who began the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate, has completed 71 of 124 passes for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns in the last three games, and receiver Derek Hagan has had three consecutive 100-yard games.

“Walter has really picked up his game the last few weeks,” UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “As a team, for the first week or so, they were trying to get their feet under them, but you can see they’ve really jelled the past couple weeks.

“Walter is a very talented quarterback. He throws an extremely accurate deep ball, he throws the ball effortlessly and he puts the ball where the receivers can catch it. We’ve played some very good quarterbacks, but this guy is right up there with the best of them, if not the best.”

Short and cornerback Matt Clark will approach Hagan and Sun Devil senior Skyler Fulton as the Bruins have most opposing receivers this season -- give them a good-sized cushion, close quickly when the ball is in the air and don’t get beat deep.

“We’re not getting beat for big touchdowns, so that’s working pretty darn well,” Kerr said. “I’m not concerned with yardage, I’m concerned with yardage after the catch. When we tackle, we’re in great shape.”

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Matt Moore’s start against the Sun Devils will come almost one year to the day after his first Bruin start. Moore, filling in for the injured Drew Olson and Cory Paus, completed seven of 19 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown to lead UCLA to a 28-18 victory over Stanford in the Bruins’ homecoming game last Oct. 26.

UCLA will also celebrate homecoming tonight in the Rose Bowl.

“That’s what my dad was saying: The game I started last year was homecoming, this year it’s homecoming, it’s almost one year to the day of the Stanford game,” said Moore, who will be making his first start since the season opener at Colorado.

“I don’t know if that’s a good or bad pattern. We won [last year]