Olson does well enough in relief role

UCLA’s football team turned to its No. 1 quarterback Saturday and Ben Olson responded . . . some.

Out since injuring a knee against Notre Dame on Oct. 6, Olson replaced Osaar Rasshan in the second half of a 16-0 victory over Oregon.

“I had prepared myself to play, but I didn’t know I would for sure,” Olson said. “I felt pretty good when I went in. It was one of those things where I haven’t done it in over a month. I wasn’t perfect in any sense.”

Olson completed four of 10 passes for 64 yards and threw one intercepted pass. He handed off to Craig Sheppard, who scored on a 20-yard run to give the Bruins a 16-0 lead in the fourth quarter.

Rasshan was 0 for 7 and threw one intercepted pass in the first half.

“Osaar struggled in the first half and we felt it was a good time to insert Ben for a series in the second half,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “He looked good and engineered a couple drives.”

As to whether he will start against USC next Saturday, Olson said, “I don’t know. That’s not my call. But I sure as heck hope so.”

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Tailback Chris Markey, whose season has been slowed by toe and ankle injuries, had 91 yards rushing, carrying 30 times after having only 23 carries in the previous five games.

“I’m not really hurting at all right now,” Markey said. “I’m just thankful I could get back out there, especially on Senior Day. Coming into the game, I felt like I was going to be the guy, I guess. I was prepared to carry the load.”

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When UCLA kicker Kai Forbath lined up for a 54-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter, he was anything but daunted. “I was hoping it would be even a couple yards back so I would get the record,” he said.

Forbath didn’t set a new mark for the Bruins -- the record stands at 56 yards -- but he made the kick and two others. The performance tied him with Justin Medlock, who attended the game, as the only Bruins to kick three field goals of 50 or more yards in a season. He also broke Bjorn Merten’s school record with 22 field goals as a freshman.

“He’s been doing that all year and he’s been real consistent,” cornerback Trey Brown said. “Usually you might have a kicker and you might get a little nervous. Whenever he goes out there, I just sit on the bench and get ready for the kickoff team.”

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Aaron Perez wants the UCLA offense to move the ball. Honest he does. But the Bruins’ punter also knows that he gets more work on afternoons when his team is struggling to make first downs.

“I’m at UCLA to punt,” he said. “So whenever they need me, I’m ready.”

They needed him a lot Saturday. Perez punted a career-high 10 times. The junior found his rhythm early, booming several kicks for more than 50 yards and finishing with an average of 46.4. Four times he pinned Oregon inside the 20-yard line.

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UCLA strong safety Chris Horton left the game early in the first quarter with what school officials called “concussive symptoms.” . . . Defensive tackle Jess Ward aggravated his injured left knee in the first half. . . . Defensive end Korey Bosworth hyper-extended his left elbow, but returned to the game.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

david.wharton@latimes.com