UCLA Is No Lame Duck

As the game clock ran down inside a minute in the fourth quarter Saturday, UCLA’s traveling foghorn honked at full blast while the Bruins’ small contingent of fans partied as if they owned sold-out Autzen Stadium.

After watching UCLA upset Oregon, 34-26, Westwood supporters had good reason to celebrate because the victory was the Bruins’ sixth and qualified them for a bowl game.

“Our main focus this whole week was to finish stronger than we started,” said senior running back Manuel White, who rushed for two touchdowns and 82 yards in front of 58,344.

“We also wanted to go out there and have fun, playing like we did when we were in Pop Warner. When we’re relaxed and having fun, that’s when we’re at our best.... I think we did that today.”

After last week’s loss to Washington State at the Rose Bowl, the Bruins did everything right down the stretch against Oregon.

Quarterback Drew Olson, who had his best decision-making game this season, led UCLA on a five-minute-plus drive that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Justin Medlock that stretched the Bruin lead to eight points with 2 minutes 8 seconds remaining.

Then, on Oregon’s last possession, UCLA’s oft-criticized defense stepped up and forced the Ducks to turn the ball over on downs.

“The one thing that I’ve mentioned all season with this team is that whenever we’ve had a failure or a setback, we’ve always bounced back,” said Coach Karl Dorrell, who picked up his first win in November to improve his team to 6-4, 4-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference. “This shows you the true character of this team.”

UCLA had more than one hero Saturday.

With Maurice Drew unable to play because of an ankle injury, freshman running back Chris Markey filled in and led UCLA in rushing and receiving. He finished with 131 yards in 23 carries to go along with five catches for 84 yards.

“I had an idea that I would get a lot of carries going into the game because Maurice was hurt,” said Markey, who had rushed for only 194 yards before Saturday. “I just took advantage of it the best way that I knew how.”

Redshirt freshman cornerback Trey Brown gave UCLA life early in the game when he picked off a first-quarter pass by Kellen Clemens and returned it 43 yards to tie the score, 7-7.

“I’ll tell you, that [Brown’s interception] really ignited the whole football team,” defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “I know it ignited the defense, and I know that it ignited the coaches....

“He just did a great job of finishing and making a play. I think he caught the quarterback by surprise and after that, that’s when [Clemens] began to have some problems.”

Receiver Junior Taylor, who had not scored a touchdown this season, turned a key third-down short slant pass into an 83-yard scoring pass play that gave UCLA a 31-20 lead late in the third quarter.

“It was great to see him do something like that for our offense,” Dorrell said about Taylor, whose touchdown catch was the longest this season for UCLA and the seventh longest in school history.

Olson completed 12 of 22 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, but it was his running that inspired his teammates. After being reluctant to tuck the ball early in the season, Olson gave his best impression of former Bruin Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban by rushing for 39 yards, including two long runs that gave UCLA first downs.

“I have to give it up to him because he ran really hard,” center Mike McCloskey said about Olson, whose options were limited with tight end Marcedes Lewis playing sparingly because of a sore back. “When everyone was covered, he just took it upon himself to pick up first downs.”

Another standout for UCLA was Medlock, who had two field goals of 50 yards or longer, including one of 52 yards in the third quarter that matched a career high.

“[I] felt good about Justin and made a couple of calls where I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to kick here,’ and he kind of gave me the big eye like ‘Are we sure?’ and I’m like ‘Yeah,’ ” said Dorrell about Medlock, who missed a 50-yard try in the first quarter. “My gut instinct was I knew he was going to be on ... and I rode his back today.”

Before the game, Oregon (5-5, 4-3) had the Pac-10’s third-leading offense and the leader in total offense in Clemens.

The first time the Ducks touched the ball, they needed only 85 seconds to drive 77 yards in five plays, capping the series with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Clemens to Dante Rosario.

But UCLA’s defense played much better the rest of the game by mixing up blitzes with zone coverages. After Oregon’s opening drive, the Bruins limited the Ducks to 260 yards.

“We did a good job of disguising our defense today, and when I think about it, this might have been our best game of the season,” senior safety Ben Emanuel said.

“We were moving around a lot, but we showed different stuff from the get-go. We would roll up to the line of scrimmage and then get back before the ball was snapped.”

This tactic worked to perfection on Oregon’s final possession that began at the Ducks’ 22-yard line. Clemens led Oregon to the UCLA 46 before throwing three consecutive incomplete passes to end the drive.

“The key on the final drive was that we tackled and rallied to the ball,” Emanuel said. “In the end we made the plays, and it sure feels good to get a win.”

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POSTSEASON TESTS

The last five bowl appearances by UCLA:

Dec. 30, 2003: Silicon Valley Classic

Fresno State 17, UCLA 9

* The Bruins had a chance in the fourth quarter after getting the ball at their 25-yard line with 3:55 to play. After a couple of completions, Drew Olson had a pass deflected and intercepted to end the Bruin hopes.

Dec. 25, 2002: Las Vegas Bowl

UCLA 27, New Mexico 13

* After the dismissal of coach Bob Toledo, interim Coach Ed Kezirian guided the Bruins, featuring defense and special teams. Neither the Bruins nor the Lobos managed an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Dec. 29, 2000: Sun Bowl

Wisconsin 21, UCLA 20

* DeShaun Foster rushed for 100 yards in the first half, including a touchdown, giving the Bruins a 17-7 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Bruins were without quarterback Cory Paus, who broke his collarbone on the last play of the second quarter.

Jan. 1, 1999: Rose Bowl

Wisconsin 38, UCLA 31

* The sixth-ranked Bruins were unable to overcome Ron Dayne’s four touchdowns for No. 9 Wisconsin. The teams set a Rose Bowl record, combining for 1,035 yards.

Jan. 1, 1998: Cotton Bowl

UCLA 29, Texas A&M; 23

* In their first bowl game under second-year Coach Bob Toledo, the No. 5 Bruins fell behind, 16-0, before rallying in the second half to defeat the

No. 20 Aggies.