Football Briefs
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 28, 1997 9:00 p.m.
Monday, September 29, 1997
Football Briefs
The game ball for Saturday’s contest goes to tailback Skip
Hicks. Hicks scored four touchdowns on Saturday, raising his career
total to 41. Hicks now holds the school record for career
touchdowns breaking the mark set by Gaston Green.
* * *
The turning point of the game was the first play of the second
half. After pulling within seven points of the Bruins, momentum
shifted back to UCLA as Arizona misplayed the second half kickoff
leading to a Hicks touchdown.
* * *
The key stat of the game: Zero touchdown passes thrown by Cade
McNown.
After throwing for a school record five touchdown passes in his
last game, McNown did not have a scoring pass in this game.
Even though he was shut out, the Bruins still managed to score
40 points, illustrating the strength of the Bruin offense.
"Although he did not throw any TD passes, I think that he
managed the game as well as he did in the USC game last season,"
offensive coordinator Al Borges said.
* * *
After missing two consecutive games due to an ankle injury, UCLA
safety Shaun Williams made his triumphant return to the field.
Called the best player on the team, he made an immediate impact
in his first game back making seven tackles, including a
bone-jarring hit to Arizona receiver Brad Brennan, breaking up a
pass from Smith. He also returned a Wildcat fumble for 15
yards.
"It felt good to get out there again," Williams said.
* * *
There was a locker room buzz about Hick’s Heisman hopes after
the game. Entering the game, Hicks was ranked third in the nation
in scoring average. Saturday’s four touchdowns and breaking Gaston
Green’s career touchdown record, didn’t hurt his case.
However, quarterback Cade McNown was quick to focus attention
away from the Heisman hype and instead, focus at the task on
hand.
"The last thing that anyone on this team is worried about is the
Heisman," McNown said. "All of players here put the team
first."
* * *
Special teams played a huge part in the outcome of the game.
Bruin kicker and punter, Chris Sailor, consistently boomed the
ball out of the end zone, pinning the Wildcats at their end of the
field.
On the other side, the Bruins enjoyed great field position.
Their average starting field position was at the UCLA 40 yard
line.
"When you have special teams playing like that it makes our job
so much easier," McNown said. "When you only have to go a short
distance to score, things are smoother."
* * *
The Bruin defense picked up where it left off two weeks ago.
They again knocked the ball out of the opponents hands, as they
forced four turnovers, which led to 17 points.
When the Wildcats were able to hold onto the ball,the Bruins
were able to keep them in check most of the game.
* * *
Arizona starting quarterback, Keith Smith was knocked out of the
game after receiving a vicious blindside hit from safety, Brendon
Ayanbadejo.
"I wasn’t expecting the hit," Smith said. "But with all of the
blitzing and attacking they do, it was inevitable."
Preliminary tests indicate a torn shoulder muscle, which will
require further evaluation.
