Oregon routs UCLA in second half for 24-10 victory
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Just when UCLA appeared to be in a defensive slugfest with No. 13-ranked Oregon this afternoon at the Rose Bowl, the Ducks scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter -- including a 100-yard kickoff return and an interception return for touchdowns just moments apart -- in a 24-10 victory over the Bruins.
Oregon improves to 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in Pacific 10 Conference play. UCLA falls to 3-2 overall and 0-2 conference.
Kenjon Barner took the second-half kickoff and went 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Ducks a 7-3 lead.
On the Bruins’ first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Oregon cornerback Talmadge Jackson intercepted a pass from Kevin Prince and returned it 32 yards for another score and a 14-3 lead.
UCLA was able to run only two more plays before turning the ball over again, this time Prince scrambling for a gain before coughing it up at midfield.
Ducks quarterback Nate Costa then capped a 50-yard drive with a 20-yard scoring pass to Jeff Maehl to give the Ducks a 21-3 lead.
UCLA cut the margin to 21-10 late in the third quarter when Akeem Ayers intercepted a Costa pass in the end zone following a 59-yard punt by Jeff Locke that pinned the Ducks at their one-yard line. Ayers batted the pass into the air and caught it before stepping out of bounds.
But the Bruins could muster little offense in the fourth quarter and fell to their second consecutive loss.
LaMichael James led the Oregon offense with 152 yards rushing in 20 carries, including one gain of 49 yards. Costa, playing in place of injured starter Jeremiah Masoli, completed nine of 17 passes for 81 yards.
Freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut, who played three series in the fourth quarter, completed five of 10 passes, but had one intercepted, for 64 yards. Starting quarterback Kevin Prince, who missed two games with a fractured jaw, completed 13 of his 25 passes for 81 yards.
Johnathan Franklin, who left the game in the first half with an ankle injury, led Bruins rushers with 32 yards in 10 carries.Prince was the next-leading rusher with 22 yards in eight carries.
Time is running out for the Bruins, who have been unable to mount a scoring drive in the final minutes against Oregon.
UCLA has shuffled freshman quarterback Richard Brehaut into the game. He completed five of his 10 passes, but had one intercepted, for 64 yards.
Starting quarterback Kevin Prince has completed 13 of his 25 passes for 81 yards with one interception.
-- Dan Loumena
Oregon, leading 21-3, was on its own two-yard line. Quarterback Nate Costa dropped into the end zone to pass and saw Ayers charging at him. Costa threw. Ayers lept, and intercepted the pass. He then toed the out of bounds line, staying inside the end zone on the green, for a touchdown.
-- Chris Foster
