Defense Makes Strides and It Quickly Shows

After a here-we-go-again start in which San Diego State running back Lynell Hamilton ran for 12 yards on the Aztecs’ first play from scrimmage, the UCLA defense quickly served notice Saturday night that it was not going to be pushed around like last year.

The Bruins, flattened for 426 yards rushing in their 2004 opener during a 31-20 loss to Oklahoma State, largely shut down San Diego State’s running game en route to a 44-21 victory at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego State finished with 402 total yards, but most of those were amassed through the air as the Aztecs tried to rally.

UCLA’s defensive front of ends Justin Hickman and Nikola Dragovic and tackles Nathaniel Skaggs and Brigham Harwell helped limit the Aztecs to 156 yards rushing in 46 carries, an average of 3.4 yards an attempt. The Bruins had allowed 6.3 yards an attempt last season against the Cowboys.

Hickman and Dragovic each sacked San Diego State quarterback Kevin O’Connell, and Dragovic blocked an extra-point attempt in his first career start.

“I think it’s everyone being a year older, faster, more experienced,” said Hickman, a junior who charged up the UCLA throng afterward by waving a school flag on the field. “We put together a pretty good game.”

Senior linebacker Spencer Havner also turned in a superlative effort with 13 tackles, including three for losses, and an interception. Sophomore cornerback Michael Norris helped turn the game into a rout when he intercepted a pass midway through the second quarter, setting up a Justin Medlock field goal that gave UCLA a 24-6 lead.

Hamilton had trouble sustaining his early momentum, getting stuffed by Havner and Dragovic for no gain on a third-and-one play on the Aztecs’ second drive.

Hamilton finished with 82 yards in 24 carries but was not much of a factor in the second half as San Diego State turned to its passing game.

“We focused all week on stopping the rush,” said Dragovic, a sophomore. “I feel that we’re going to be dominant this year.”

Said Coach Karl Dorrell: “We’re better, but we can get a lot better still. We’re still playing with a lot of young players.”

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UCLA lost an instant-replay challenge on Marcedes Lewis’ catch near the goal-line early in the third quarter when officials ruled that the tight end did not come down in the end zone. Running back Chris Markey scored from one yard on the next play to give the Bruins a 30-6 lead.

UCLA was afforded the opportunity to challenge the initial ruling because Mountain West Conference teams and their opponents have access to instant replays this season for the first time. The Bruins were charged with a timeout as a result of the failed challenge.

Lewis’ 31-yard reception on the play gave him 74 catches for his career (he finished the night with 75) and moved him into second place on UCLA’s career reception list for a tight end. Paul Bergmann, who caught 85 passes from 1979 to ‘83, is the Bruins’ all-time leader at the position.

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With his 103 yards passing in the first half giving him 5,437 for his career, quarterback Drew Olson surpassed Tommy Maddox to move into fourth place on UCLA’s all-time passing list. Maddox passed for 5,363 yards from 1990 to ’91. Only Tom Ramsey (6,168 yards), Cory Paus (6,877) and Cade McNown (10,708) have thrown for more yards.