LaMichael James rushed for 152 yards on 20
carries, as the 13th-ranked Oregon Ducks defeated the UCLA Bruins, 24-10, at
the Rose Bowl.
Nate Costa managed the offensive effectively in place of Ducks starting
quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who missed the contest with a knee injury. Costa
connected on 9-of-17 passes for 82 yards with one touchdown and one
interception for Oregon (5-1, 3-0 Pac-10), which has won five straight after
losing at Boise State to open the season.
"To be great in this league, you have to win on the road," said Oregon head
coach Chip Kelly. "A lot of different guys stepped up and played big today.
That's why this is a team victory. The way our defense and special teams are
scoring points is huge for us right now. We felt like we could run the ball
and we did a great job of that."
UCLA starter Kevin Prince completed only 13-of-25 passes for 81 yards
with one interception. Richard Brehaut played the majority of the fourth
quarter and threw for 64 yards.
The Bruins (3-2, 0-2) were done in by a series of crippling events at the
outset of the third quarter.
Oregon's Kenjon Barner returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter 100
yards for a touchdown. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Talmadge
Jackson picked off a Prince pass and raced 32 yards for a 14-3 lead a mere 26
seconds into the second half.
The woes continued for UCLA as Prince fumbled on the second play of the next
drive. Eddie Pleasant recovered the football at midfield for Oregon, and Costa
followed with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Maehl.
UCLA countered with a defensive touchdown of its own when Costa was
intercepted by Akeem Ayers in the end zone.
Morgan Flint kicked a 33-yard field goal on the initial play of the fourth
quarter to stretch Oregon's lead to 24-10.
The lone points of the first half came via the leg of the Bruins' Kai
Forbath, who drilled a 52-yard field goal with 5:59 remaining in the second
quarter.
"I was very disappointed in the first half, coming in at 3-0 and we couldn't
punch it in at the one-yard line," said UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel. "You
should be able to knock it in there. We've got to keep looking inside
ourselves to be a better offense. Defensively, I thought the effort was
terrific."
Game Notes
UCLA's Taylor Embree made five grabs for 50 yards...Oregon has won three of
the last four meetings with the Bruins...The Oregon defense recorded five
sacks...UCLA mustered only 66 yards on the ground...The Bruins host California
next Saturday, while Oregon visits Washington in two weeks.
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