Late-game rally tames Wildcats

Monday, December 14, 1998

Late-game rally tames Wildcats

ARIZONA: Tailbacks help struggling Bruins surge ahead in fourth
quarter

By Jeff Kmiotek

Daily Bruin Staff

What do you get when you lose your starting tailback, your
quarterback completes just 10 of 24 passes, and you’re playing the
10th-best team in the nation on its home turf?

If you’re the UCLA Bruins, a convincing 52-28 victory. The
second-ranked Bruins (4-0, 2-0 in Pac-10) blew up in the fourth
quarter, parting the red sea of Arizona fans with three touchdowns
on three consecutive offensive plays to turn a close game into a
demolition.

Even with Jermaine Lewis out serving his suspension, it was the
tailbacks who led the way.

Freshman DeShaun Foster stepped up and kept the Bruins close in
the first half, while Keith Brown put the game away with two
straight TD runs in the fourth quarter.

"Keith and I didn’t want to be the letdown of the team," said
Foster. "I knew I could run hard, and I just wanted to show what I
could do."

Foster’s first run was his most impressive, a 37-yard effort in
which he bounced off defenders like a mad pinball before reaching
pay dirt for UCLA’s opening score. Foster scored later on a
one-yard stroll and ended with 122 yards on 20 carries.

"I was really impressed," said quarterback Cade McNown.
"(Foster) ran the ball tremendously. He kept his feet moving, kept
breaking tackles. It was huge."

McNown, on the other hand, struggled in the first half before
settling in after intermission. He completed just two of his first
10 passes, visibly nervous playing in front of the fourth-largest
crowd in Arizona history. He threw for 171 yards, snapping a streak
of 18 straight games with over 200 passing yards.

But McNown did make the big plays and helped extend a more
important string – UCLA’s 14-game winning streak, currently the
longest roll in the nation.

"In the first half we got in some bad situations, but that’s all
right," said McNown. "You just bite the bullet and know that
eventually the best team will surface and show itself."

McNown also had a big hand in the play that proved to be the
knockout punch.

Up 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Al
Borges dug deep into the playbook and pulled out a gem. McNown
faked an option, stepped back and fired over the middle to a
wide-open Danny Farmer, who grabbed it in stride for a 64-yard TD
and a commanding 38-28 lead.

The touchdown was McNown’s 50th at UCLA, tying him for the
school record. It silenced the raging red crowd and put an end to
any noise the Wildcats would be making.

The Bruins scored on their next two offensive plays, both long
TD runs by Brown. He sprinted in for a 54-yarder and followed it up
with a 20-yard surge.

While Arizona was hyping the game as possibly the biggest in
school history, the Bruins played it like any other.

"It hurts bad. I don’t like the way it feels at all," said
Arizona defensive tackle Daniel Greer. "I can’t stand it."

AARON MICHAEL TOUT

DeShaun Foster carries the ball as Brad Melsby clears the way.
Foster ran for 118 yards to lead the Bruins in rushing against
UA.

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