Friday, October 23, 1998
Bruins tries to avoid letdown after two emotional victories
FOOTBALL: Game pits offensive powerhouse UCLA against top Pac-10
defense of Golden Bears
By Jeff Kmiotek
Daily Bruin Staff
The second-ranked Bruins are on a roll.
They exploded to win an emotional game against previously
undefeated Arizona.
They battled to win an overtime thriller against previously
undefeated Oregon.
They have been victorious in 15 straight games, a streak that
tops the nation.
Injuries aside, everything is going the right way for UCLA.
Tomorrow, they’ll be in Berkeley to take on a California team whose
season lies in the balance of this game.
Seems like prime time for a letdown. A UCLA Cal-amity up north?
Probably not, but this game won’t be easy.
"My big concern is that we can’t have a letdown," said head
coach Bob Toledo.
"I hope not to allow that to ever happen. But when you play a
team like Arizona and Oregon, all of the sudden it gets tougher.
Everybody wants to knock you off."
For the Golden Bears, this will be a huge game  an
opportunity to show the world whether they’re contenders or just
pretenders. With a win, the Bears (4-2, 2-1 Pacific-10) will still
be in the Rose Bowl picture. Otherwise, they’ll be well out of
frame.
The Bruins have plenty at stake as well, as they do every week,
now that they’re in the heat of a national championship race.
"We have to get up every week being No. 2 and every team gets up
and plays their best game against us. We have to stay focused and
play hard every week so there is no letdown," said cornerback Ryan
Roques.
California possesses some firepower on offense, but their
defense is their strength. The Golden Bears lead the Pac-10 in
scoring defense (18.7 points per game), passing defense (162.7
yards per game) and total defense (321.8 yards per game). The
defense has also dominated the second half of games, yielding just
three touchdowns after halftime in six games.
"Their defense is really tough. They’re turning the ball over
and scoring," said quarterback Cade McNown. "But I wouldn’t have it
any other way. I’d much rather be facing a team whose defense is
their best asset because that’s more in control for me and the rest
of the offense."
Cal’s defense is led by Sekou Sanyika, one of the biggest impact
players in the Pac-10. Sanyika leads the conference with a 17
tackles for a loss, and is tied for the lead with seven sacks.
But Sanyika and the other Cal defenders have yet to play against
an offensive line as powerful as UCLA’s and a passing game with as
much firepower. The Bruins have allowed just four sacks this
season.
UCLA’s offense is third in the country with 46.6 points per
game, and Cal allows only 18.7 points each game, so something is
going to have to give.
"Offensively, I have a great deal of respect for the way UCLA
plays," said Cal coach Tom Holmoe.
"They have a quarterback that can run that offense to near
perfection, and they have skilled players that can execute the game
plan. So those things all tie into having you a little bit anxious
about going into the game."
The Golden Bears’ offense has been somewhat anemic this year,
especially when you compare their 16.5 points per game to the
Bruins’ monstrous average. Cal’s top offensive threat is receiver
Dameane Douglas, who is tied for seventh in the nation with 7.9
catches per game. Tailback Marcus Fields leads a bleak running game
which rests at the bottom of the Pac-10 rankings.
UCLA’s offense has scoreboard operators earning their dues. The
Bruins have scored over 40 points in all five games this season,
marking the first time UCLA has strung together five straight games
over 40.
But freshman tailback DeShaun Foster will miss this game with a
strained left knee, leaving Keith Brown to start and Jermaine Lewis
to come off the bench.
The tailback twosome has combined for 514 yards and 13
touchdowns on the year.
Some defensive changes for the Bruins include Kenyon Coleman
starting at left end and Jason Stephens replacing Tod McBride at
strong safety.
McBride will move back to free safety and back up Larry Atkins.
UCLA’s defense will be hungry for the Golden Bears, especially
after allowing 38 points to Oregon.
"We have a good game plan to just go out and go after them. It’s
another chance to prove how good we are," said cornerback Marques
Anderson.
UCLA won’t be playing against an undefeated, ranked opponent.
They won’t be going against the cream of the Pac-10, and they won’t
be in the national spotlight. But their game plan and desired
result will remain exactly the same.
"There is no reason for us not to be motivated," said linebacker
Tony White.
"If guys can’t get motivated for this game, I don’t know what it
will take."
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