UCLA rewind & fast forward

Rewind

Looking back at UCLA’s 44-31 victory over Washington

As expected: The Bruins didn’t need a respirator handy or anyone nearby to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Saturday, though there was some question whether those things might be needed at times against the Huskies. The Bruins, after a week of hearing all about the 44-6 loss to Utah, came up with a decent answer in a game against one of the Pacific 10 Conference’s second-division teams.

Unexpected: Gadget plays and taking chances. Offensive coordinator Jay Norvell can bark, How’d ya like me now?

A pass off a reverse by receiver Brandon Breazell, which went for 57 yards to set up a touchdown in the second quarter. A halfback pass with a 10-point lead midway through a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Going for it on fourth and two at the Washington 20, and coming up short, while leading by a touchdown in the third quarter. Getting the ball back late in the first half and actually trying to score.

Do the Bruins have some élan? Or did those moments merely underscore how desperate the Bruins’ hierarchy was after the Utah loss?

Stepped up: Hey, aren’t you Chris Markey? He had 153 yards rushing and looked like he was running in tapioca through the first three games. His 193 yards rushing Saturday, including a 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, was just the welcome-back moment the Bruins needed.

Stepped back: Sophomore tackle Micah Kia seemed eager to get his college career started. A little too eager. He had two false start moments in the first quarter Saturday. That would have been much more forgivable if he hadn’t had the same troubles in Utah, and spent the week being reminded of that during practice.

Kia got a little time to mull that over Saturday night after being replaced by sophomore Aleksey Lanis for part of the game.

Coach’s quote: “I think our preparation was really key,” Coach Karl Dorrell said of the offensive line’s blocking, which helped produce 333 yards rushing. “We stepped that up, compared with the past week and previous games. The coaches did a thorough job in getting things fixed. That has to carry over week to week and it was good to see the production.”

Injury report: Quarterback Patrick Cowan left in the fourth quarter with what was called a “sprained right knee.” He will undergo an MRI exam today, but is definitely out for Saturday’s game against Oregon State. Wide receiver Gavin Ketchum injured his right ankle in the third quarter and will have an X-ray today. Meanwhile, linebacker Aaron Whittington (concussion) and defensive end Nikola Dragovic (concussion) have been cleared to resume practice.

Fast forward

Looking ahead to the game at Oregon State

(Saturday, at Reser Stadium, 3:30 p.m., FSN West)

First look: A team with loads of returning starters coming off a strong finish in 2006 that hasn’t lived up to expectations this season.

Relax Bruins’ fans, this is about Oregon State this time. The Beavers returned 18 starters from a team that won eight of its last nine games. Yet, road losses to Cincinnati and Arizona State leave the Beavers in the overrated pile for the moment, even if they did manage to beat Utah.

Topic of the week: Classes start today at UCLA, and students are encouraged to audition for parts in “Fiddler On The Roof” and as the Bruins’ quarterback.

There would be a full-blown quarterback controversy this week if the Bruins actually had a healthy experienced one. Cowan is on the shelf. Ben Olson missed Saturday’s game with what has not been called a concussion, though he suffered from headaches and nausea all week. Olson has been cleared to resume practice Tuesday.

If Olson can’t go, the Bruins’ offense is in the hands of walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Behind him is true freshman Chris Forcier or sophomore Osaar Rasshan, who moved from quarterback to wide receiver this season and has never thrown a pass in a game.

So is John Barnes or Norm Dow busy?

Then again, maybe the Bruins can turn to Breazell, who threw a nice pass on a gadget play Saturday.

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Season log (3-1)

at Stanford (1-2, 0-2); Won, 45-17.

Brigham Young (1-3); Won, 27-17.

at Utah (1-3); lost, 44-6

Washington (2-2, 0-1); Bruins and Huskies went head-to-head with Saturday Night Live in late-night ratings battle. The Weekend Update was that the Bruins’ season still has hope.

Saturday; at Oregon State (2-2, 0-1); Beavers’ record is a bit deceiving, as it includes a win over Utah. Really, who could lose to woeful Utes . . . right?

Oct. 6; Notre Dame (0-4)

Oct. 20; California (4-0, 1-0)

Oct. 27; at Washington State (2-2, 0-1)

Nov. 3; at Arizona (1-3, 0-1)

Nov. 10; Arizona State (4-0, 1-0)

Nov. 24; Oregon (4-0, 1-0)

Dec. 1; at USC (3-0, 1-0)