London Sidelined by Ankle Injury

A UCLA defense already thinned by the loss of injured linemen Kevin Brown and Nikola Dragovic was further depleted Saturday when senior linebacker Justin London did not play because his sore right ankle continued to bother him.

Freshman John Hale, who had alternated with London for several weeks, started in his place and made four tackles. But the No. 7 Bruins were steamrollered by the Pacific 10 Conference’s worst rushing game and a freshman quarterback making his second collegiate start during Arizona’s 52-14 victory at Arizona Stadium.

The Wildcats, who had been averaging 97 yards rushing a game, amassed 315 yards Saturday, with Mike Bell and Gilbert Harris each surpassing 100 yards.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama completed 14 of 24 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

The offensive onslaught was difficult for London, the Bruins’ fourth-leading tackler, to watch from the sideline with his right foot encased in a protective boot.

“We’ve been outplayed for quarters before but not games, and this was the first time we’ve been outplayed for 60 minutes,” he said. “We have to bounce back.”

London, who had been limited in practice most of the week, said he could not predict whether he would be able to return next week against Arizona State.

“I’m not the one to ask,” he said. “You’re going to have to talk to the doctors.”

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Marcedes Lewis’ 19 career touchdown receptions tie him for fourth on the school’s all-time list with Craig Bragg and Danny Farmer. J.J. Stokes had 28 touchdown catches and Brian Poli-Dixon and Jojo Townsell 20. Lewis’ 11 receptions Saturday tied him for second place on the single-game list. Stokes had 14 catches against Wisconsin in the 1994 Rose Bowl.