Football Notebook

Stats say Mitchell is best receiver

Wide receiver Freddie Mitchell is now the best receiver in the
nation. At least according to statistics, he is.

Mitchell leads the NCAA with 123 yards per game, averaging 6.3
catches per game. His 19.4 yards per reception average is also the
best in the nation of those in the top 30 in receptions per
game.

The junior flanker has 38 receptions for 736 yards to go along
with six touchdowns. His season long was an 80-yarder against
Arizona State.

Mitchell, who has also thrown a touchdown this season, had a
career high 10 receptions for 137 yards against Michigan, nine of
which resulted in first downs.

Against Cal, he caught eight balls for a career high 167 yards,
good for seventh on UCLA’s single game list. Mitchell is on
pace to hit 1,349 yards this year, surpassing Danny Farmer’s
school record of 1,274 in 1998. The 736 yards is already the eighth
best total in a season by a Bruin.

Longer is not necessarily better

The 46-38 triple overtime loss to Cal last weekend was the
longest game in UCLA football history.

Under the alternating possession overtime rules, UCLA, now
ranked No. 23, is 3-1.

In the game, the Bruins rallied from 14 points down in the
fourth quarter before having a pass intercepted in the third
overtime to end the game.

The previous longest Bruin game was against Southern Cal in
1996. In that game Cade McNown and Skip Hicks rallied the Bruins
from a 41-24 deficit. Toledo called that game his personal favorite
as a head coach. Toledo called the recent loss to Cal one of the
most disappointing.

Ground game at a low

Despite the three extra possessions, no Bruin rushed for more
than 100 yards. Under Toledo, the Bruins are 17-4 when a back goes
over 100 yards, and 16-15 when they do not.

The Bruins miss their star running back DeShaun Foster.

“He would have helped. (His absence) wasn’t the
reason we lost, but it would have helped,” Toledo said.

Jermaine Lewis ran for 15 yards on 16 carries on a tender
sprained ankle, and Akil Harris had 20 carries for 59 yards.

Team shouldering fewer plays

Cal’s strong front seven had a lot to do with the poor
rushing statistics, but there might have been another factor.

Toledo admitted that the playbook has been somewhat limited in
order to protect quarterback Cory Paus’ shoulder.

“I feel I’m ready for anything,” said Paus on
Monday afternoon.

On the Bruins’ first play from scrimmage of the season,
Paus separated his shoulder on a late hit, forcing him to miss the
three following games. The Bruins cannot afford to lose Paus again
because backup Ryan McCann did not practice all last week due to
tendonitis in his throwing shoulder.

Toledo said that the playbook would be opened up a little more
this week, but there would still be some plays in the lock box.

Who’s next?

The playbook has been open for other players to pass the ball
this season.

So far, besides quarterbacks Paus, McCann, Scott McEwan and Drew
Bennett, wide receivers Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon, and punter
Nate Fikse have all thrown passes this season. Two years ago, Lewis
threw a 23 yard touchdown pass to John Dubravac, so there are still
some other plays yet to be seen this season.

Paus, McCann, Bennett and Mitchell have all thrown touchdowns
this season.

No place like home

UCLA’s road woes have been well-documented, but what has
not been is their success at home. UCLA has not won away from the
Rose Bowl since 1998, but they have also won 18 of the last 20 home
games. They are five of their last five.

Notes compiled by Greg Lewis, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.