Bruins quarterback Richard Brehaut feels effects of concussion

UCLA found itself down to its third string quarterback … and then its fourth … Thursday night

Sophomore Richard Brehaut was leveled by Nate Williams in the third quarter. Williams was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Brehaut remained in the game, but was replaced by Darius Bell on the next series.

Brehaut sat out with a concussion as first Bell and then walk-on Clayton Tunney tried to rally the Bruins in a 24-7 loss to Washington.

Bell rushed for nine yards and did not complete a pass. He had one pass intercepted. Tunney was one for eight for 13 yards passing and had one pass intercepted.

Brehaut could only watch.

“I couldn’t remember the drive that just happened,” Brehaut said. “That was the first sign something was wrong. I felt I could have gone back in. I couldn’t find my helmet and they told me they took it and I was not going to find it.”

With good reason.

As Brehaut came off the field, Coach Rick Neuheisel said, “I wanted to talk about that third-down play because we had just talked about it. He couldn’t remember we talked. I said, “You can’t play anymore.’”

Bell, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, was not happy with his UCLA debut. He entered the game with the Bruins trailing, 10-7.

“It was a winnable game, and a game we should have won,” Bell said. “We were down three and one score would have put us up. That’s why I’m here, to help this team.”

Bruins run down

Washington gained 253 yards rushing with Chris Polk finishing with 138 yards.

It was the sixth time this season that the Bruins have allowed more than 200 yards rushing.

“We’ve got to execute better, that’s all I can say,” UCLA defensive tackle David Carter said.

Asked if that should still be a problem 10 games into the season, Carter said. “We have a young team. We’ve played 10 games, but we have young guys who make dumb mistakes. Our team has to grow up. We can’t keep saying the same thing over and over. We’ve got to fix it.”

Quick hits

Sheldon Price, who suffered a sprained knee against California on Oct. 9, returned to the starting lineup Thursday. … Linebacker Steve Sloan (hamstring injury) suited up but did not play. … Aaron Hester had his second interception of the season. Washington linebacker Mason Foster had 14 tackles and defensive back Nate Williams 13.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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