Oregon Blows Past UCLA, 24-10

(first published on KLAC's Bruins Board website --- 10/11/09)

No Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback for the Ducks yesterday at the Rose Bowl. No matter. A flurry of third quarter touchdowns, solid game management by backup Nate Costa, and Oregon rolled over a fatigued Bruins' defense en route to a 24-10 win.

For UCLA, it was the second straight Pac-10 loss after beginning the year with a 3-0 record. The Bruins are now 0-2 and in danger of bottoming out in league play with a loss to California at home next weekend. Oregon is 5-1, with a 3-0 conference mark and five straight wins after a season-opening loss at Boise State.

"That's what our team does," first-year Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "They feed off each other. When somebody makes a big play, the other guys feed off that. These guys have a great attitude, a great chemistry right now. It's fun to be around them."

It was a tale of limited offense and missed red-zone opportunities for Rick Neuheisel's crew in this one. In the first half, UCLA saw a third and goal from the one yard line lead to zero points. Consecutive quarterback sneaks by QB Kevin Prince went nowhere. Later in the fourth, UCLA wideout Terrance Austin took a punt return inside the Oregon twenty-yard line. Again, the Bruins went for it on 4th and goal, this time from the five, but came away with nothing.

Kicker Kai Forbath's 52 yard field goal was responsible for the only points on the board at halftime, UCLA with a 3-0 lead.

"There are no excuses for that really," freshman RB Jonathan Franklin said afterwards. "Our defense is playing its guts out, and we didn't give them the kind of lift or breathing room that we needed. I really don't know what to say, other than we've got to keep working at getting better and converting (red zone chances). That was so disappointing out there today."

Freshman QB Kevin Prince returned from a fractured jaw for UCLA. After a conservative, mistake-free first half, Prince unraveled in the 3rd quarter amidst a flurry of Ducks' touchdowns. The Bruins saw their 3-0 halftime lead dissipate quickly when Oregon's Kenjon Barner returned the second half kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. Moments later, Prince gift-wrapped a touchdown for Ducks' CB Talmadge Jackson, with an interception on an out throw for Terrance Austin that was returned 32 yards for a score. Less than two minutes after that, Prince lost a fumble that Oregon recovered. The Ducks rolled in for a third straight touchdown a few plays later, Nate Costa hitting receiver Jeff Maehl for a 20 yard score up the middle of the field. That grabbed a 21-3 lead for the Ducks and they never looked back.

"We've just got to get much better as a team, especially on offense," said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel. "Our defense lays it on the line out there, play after play, but our offense has got to move the ball, score points, take time off the clock---really do all the little things that help both units stay fresh. We'll get to fixing this stuff right away, and I know we'll have a better effort next weekend."

Linebacker Akeem Ayers accounted for UCLA's only touchdown with a great interception in the Oregon end zone late in the third quarter. He picked off a forced throw by Costa, then planted both feet down before falling out of bounds. Unfortunately for the Bruins, it was too little, too late.

UCLA hosts Cal next Saturday at 12:30 at the Rose Bowl. Tune in to AM 570 KLAC for all of your Bruins coverage, starting two hours before every kickoff.

-JAB