Running away will not be an option for UCLA as it faces Oregon, a team it has lost to each of the last four seasons in the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins are hurrying to Autzen Stadium, and they will
be running toward the end zone
in search of a bowl bid, no doubt. The question is: Who will be rushing for them?
Running back Maurice Drew lost six yards in his only carry against Washington State last week before UCLA lost him in the first quarter for the remainder of the game.
UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell said his injury is pretty serious and that he will be a game-time decision.
UCLA (5-4 overall, 3-3 Pacific-10 Conference) lost more than just its leading rusher last week as it surrendered in a 31-29 loss to the Cougars. Running back Jerome Harrison ran for 247 yards and carried the ball 42 times for Washington State in the narrow defeat.
The Cougars took an early lead after UCLA’s Tab Perry turned over the ball by fumbling the opening kickoff. Being without a lead in the beginning of a game is something Dorrell’s squad was not used to.
“(Washington State) just made some plays early in the game that gave them the momentum from
the start,” Dorrell said. “That was something we didn’t anticipate
and we got ourselves in an unfamiliar situation.”
The Bruins went down to the wire but only put together 308 yards of offense. A two-point conversion attempt by quarterback Drew Olson, which would have tied the game, fell incomplete with 42 seconds left in the contest.

Senior tailback Manuel White took on a more emphasized role for UCLA and caught a 4-yard touchdown pass to go with the 46-rushing yards he hauled in on 13 carries.
White has started six games and played in all nine. He has acquired the same amount of rushing attempts as Drew (133) and has recorded 666 yards on the ground. White is averaging five yards per carry and he is ranked sixth in the Pac-10 with 74 yards per game.
Drew ranks third in the Pac-10 in rushing yards (98.44 per game) and all-purpose yards (159.56 per game). The sophomore netted 384 total yards against Washington, which has been the top performance of any player in the nation this season. Drew has 886 rushing yards through eight starts and nine games.
Three players have had at least one run of 60 yards or more this season for UCLA: Drew, White and tailback Chris Markey.
Markey, a true freshman, has rushed for 194 yards on 30 carries and scored one touchdown.
Olson not looking for twin losses to Oregon
Olson would like to forget about the six sacks he fell victim to and the 22-yard interception that Oregon’s Jerry Matson returned for a score last season.
The junior hurler would like to remember the respectable 249 yards he threw for and the 29 passes he completed in 49 attempts against the Ducks.
He is in search of touchdown pass No. 18 this weekend because only three other UCLA quarterbacks have thrown for at least 18
touchdowns in a season. The current total of 17 scores through the air this year has already surpassed last year’s number, which was 12 in 13 games.
Olson’s 130.69 pass-efficiency rating reflects the 158 completions and 11 interceptions he has collected in 274 attempts. The 6-foot-3 quarterback has thrown for 1,976 yards this season.
Craig Bragg became UCLA’s
all-time career receptions leader with the help of Olson. The senior wide receiver now has 180 receptions after he caught five passes against the Cougars to move himself pass Kevin Jordan’s mark of
179 grabs.
Kicking the “foot” into football for the Bruins
Senior Chris Kluwe is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the nation’s best punter. Kluwe’s season average of 47.73 yards per punt is the best in the Pac-10. He has contributed to making UCLA the country’s leader in net punting yards.
“He has done a great job,” Dorrell said. “He has great hang time on
his kicks.”
Justin Medlock is a semifinalist for the 2004 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. The sophomore has made 12 of 14 field goals with his longest being a 52-yarder
in the season opener against Oklahoma State. Of his 33 extra-point
attempts, 32 have flown between the uprights.
“(Special teams) is an area where we are being consistent,” Dorrell said. “We just need some more consistency in some other areas of our football team.”
Dorrell explained that his team’s offense needs to build early momentum and operate a continuous attack. The defense has been “in position to make plays” but it has not followed through.
UCLA has allowed just five fourth-quarter touchdowns in nine games. All of them have come in the last three games; one went to Washington State last week.
Senior cornerback Matt Clark
and junior linebacker Spencer Havner will continue to be the main sources of leadership for the Bruins’ defense as they have both started the last 20 games.

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