ONLINE EXTRA: Defense secures Bruin win in low-scoring contest

Photo by CATHERINE JUN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Quarterback,
Cory Pares, wrestles the ball away from the
opposition in UCLA’s 13-6 victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes
at the Rose Bowl this past Saturday

By Scott Bair
Daily Bruin Reporter

Logic was defied on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. What was up was
down, and what was right was left. It was as if the fans had
entered the twilight zone while they watched their beloved
Bruins.

The Bruin football tradition has always been one of big plays
and heavy doses of offense, where touchdowns are traded, and the
victor is decided by who has the ball in the final seconds. An
untraditional 13-6 victory by now No. 10 UCLA (3-0) over then No.
21 Ohio State (1-1) in Pasadena on Saturday contained an offense
that was lacking but a defensive prowess that could become the new
face of Bruin football.

“I think that our defense was reading their keys and doing
what they were supposed to do,” said Bruin senior free safety
Marques Anderson. “Everybody was making tackles on the first
hit and if we do that, we’re going to play like we did
today.”

The UCLA defense pitched a shutout on Saturday. The only points
that the Buckeyes were able to notch came on a blocked punt that
was recovered in the end zone. A struggling Ohio State kicking game
missed the ensuing extra point, along with three field goals during
the game.

Photo by CATHERINE JUN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff During halftime
of the UCLA vs. Ohio State football game, UCLA band members played
American national music while an American flag was unfurled on the
field as a tribute to those who suffered in NYC World Trade Center
and Pentago Attacks The Buckeye offense was held stagnant by a
persistently aggressive Bruin secondary and a swarming defensive
front ““ led by the ferocious play of senior linebacker Robert
Thomas.

Thomas led the Bruin attack with nine tackles, five of which
came behind the line of scrimmage. However, his statistics do not
tell the story of how he was making an impact on every play by
sprinting to the ball or drawing a double team.

With its dominant defense, all the Bruin offense needed was the
touchdown and extra point that they earned on the game’s
first series. UCLA converted on four third downs during the first
drive, the last of which was a 24-yard lob pass to UCLA wide
receiver Ryan Smith in the end zone.

“They showed a lot of safety blitzes that we prepared for,
and the first time that we got into the red zone they brought
it,” said UCLA junior quarterback Cory Paus of the touchdown
pass. “I moved the running back over to block the blitzing
safety, changed the receiver’s route and found him in the
corner of the end zone.”

After the first drive, the Bruin offensive train began to run
out of steam. DeShaun Foster, the lead engine for the UCLA attack,
ran off track after a good start. He only amassed 66 yards on 28
carries. In addition, Foster was plagued by a case of fumblitis,
coughing up the ball on four separate occasions. Once the disease
struck Foster, it became contagious, infecting three other Bruins
and forcing several turnovers.

The most untimely turnover was Foster’s fumble on his own
9-yard line with the Buckeyes only down by a touchdown. Despite the
tight situation, the Bruin defense fought valiantly. They did not
allow a single yard, forcing Ohio State to settle for one a field
goal attempt they would later miss.

“When there is a sudden change in the game like a
turnover, you have to take the field with a good attitude,”
said UCLA head coach Bob Toledo. “Our squad has to go out and
make the best of whatever situation that they’re given.
It’s all about attitude, and our kids had a great attitude
today.”

The defense held the opposition at bay during the entire game,
but even at the end, the Buckeyes were only one touchdown away from
a tie.

“We as a coaching staff are trying to preach to our kids
that they should play each down for six seconds as hard as they can
go,” Toledo said. “On the last play of the game, there
were six seconds left on the clock.”

And even on that last play, with the ball 95 yards away from the
end zone, the Bruin defense played hard.