Cardinal Derails Perfect UCLA Start, 24-16

(first published on KLAC's Bruins Board website --- 10/4/09)

Stanford is for real, and UCLA’s perfect start to the 2009 season is over. Riding senior tailback Toby Gerhart 29 times for 134 yards, the Cardinal offense displayed a steady balance all game long, en route to a 24-16 win.

It was the first win for Stanford over UCLA since 2003. That was also the last time the Cardinal made a bowl game. With head coach Jim Harbaugh now in his third year as Stanford’s head coach, his team genuinely looks like it’s turning a corner. Of course, having a quarterback like Andrew Luck certainly makes it all look a little easier: the redshirt freshman was 14 of 20 on his throws for 198 yards and the all-important donut in the interception column.

Stanford was a highly efficient 7 for 13 on 3rd down conversions; UCLA was a dismal 2 for 10 on the key plays. Time after time, Luck was able to pick up the blitz ahead of time and deliver his throws on the mark for the Cardinal.

“He’s a talented player, and he really just picked us apart there in the first half,” said Bruins’ coach Rick Neuheisel. “When you let their running game get going early with that big back (Toby Gerhart) of theirs, you put yourself in a difficult situation.

RB Jonathan Franklin rushed 14 times for 58 yards to lead the Bruins ground attack. Stanford Junior WR Ryan Whalen led all receivers with six catches for 188 yards.

After falling behind 24-6 early in the second half, UCLA began to chip away. Kicker Kai Forbath drilled another of his three field goal makes during a twelve minute span that framed a 1 yd TD dive from Jonathan Franklin.

Still, the deficit for UCLA was too much to overcome, as the Cardinal ran out the clock on their final drive.

“I was real proud of the way we fought back, everyone sticking together,” offered Bruins’ QB Kevin Craft, who was 22/34 for 206 yards without a pick. “But the bottom line is you have to find a way to get things evened up, and then get ahead and stay there. We came up short today.”

Stanford remains perfect in the Pac-10 at 3-0. UCLA falls to 0-1 in conference, with a home against #13 Oregon looming next Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

-JAB