UCLA Simply Exercised Its Option : San Diego State: Bruins, who compiled 515 yards on offense, were surprised at their success on the ground against the nation’s worst defense. ‘We’ve got to learn to make football plays,’ Luginbill says.

SAN DIEGO —  As the San Diego State football team bused home Saturday night from another loss--this one to UCLA, 45-31--it wasn’t riding toward another game week.

No, with consecutive losses clinging to them like a dirty uniform, there will be no chance to redeem themselves this Saturday. The bus was taking them home to face three weeks of practice and, likely, some soul-searching.

Because the Brigham Young game, originally scheduled Oct. 20, was moved to September for television, and because they already had one bye week built into their schedule, the Aztecs do not play again until Utah comes here Nov. 3.

That leaves SDSU (2-4) plenty of time to think about lost opportunities and missed tackles.

It also means that there will be some unhappy football teams on the next two Saturdays--nobody will get to face SDSU’s defense.

Once again, the Aztecs are ranked 106th--last--in the nation in total defense, allowing an average of 509.3 yards a game. This is the second week SDSU has been last--it was also 106th after a 62-34 loss Sept. 22 to Brigham Young.

SDSU is also rated 105th in scoring defense, allowing 39.8 points a game. Vanderbilt (45.8) is 106th.

UCLA chewed up the Aztecs for 515 yards of offense Saturday--376 on the ground, the most for the Bruins since they had 423 in the 1986 Freedom Bowl. The 45 points were the most for the Bruins since they defeated Cal State Long Beach, 56-3, in 1988. Their six rushing touchdowns matched their season total entering the game.

The new twist was an option UCLA showed at times. Quarterback Tommy Maddox used it on the first drive, and the Bruins used it effectively throughout.

“We went into the game convinced we had to throw the ball a high number of times,” UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said. “We absolutely thought we couldn’t run the ball.”

But once they got the option going, Donahue quickly saw that the best way for the Bruins to move the ball was to get it outside. When they turned the outside corner, there were usually at least five or six yards available.

UCLA never did have to go to its passing game. Maddox completed 12 of 18 for 139 yards and no interceptions. Running back Brian Brown gained a career-high 175 yards.

“I had a lot of room on the option and made a lot of yards without having to make a lot of moves or take a lot of hits,” Brown said.

All of which left SDSU Coach Al Luginbill searching for answers.

“Tonight we found another way to self-destruct,” Luginbill said after the game. “We’ve got to learn to make plays when the game is on the line.”

As for the option, Luginbill said: “We didn’t adjust well to it in the first half, but we did in the second.”

Aztec games this season have been reminiscent of the old Gilda Radner bits on Saturday Night Live: It’s always something. If they’re not getting burned by the deep pass, they’re beaten by the short stuff. Or the run. Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, it was the option.

The Aztec offense, meanwhile, cooled off in the second half, scoring just 10 points after three first-half touchdowns. But it would have taken quite a second-half effort for the Aztecs to have won--they trailed at halftime, 35-21, and UCLA was moving the ball practically at will.

Quarterback Dan McGwire completed 10 of 24 second-half passes for 114 yards and no touchdowns after throwing three touchdown passes in the first half.

SDSU’s Patrick Rowe had the sixth-best day in SDSU history--and second best by a UCLA opponent--with 224 yards receiving. That makes him the top-rated receiver in the nation this week in receiving yards per game with an average of 120.50.

This is the second consecutive week an Aztec has led the nation in that category. Last week’s leader, Dennis Arey, dropped to fourth at 106.67.

The Aztecs had 229 yards passing by halftime, but by then, they were essentially out of this game.

“Both offensively and defensively, we didn’t get it done when we had to,” Luginbill said.

“I’m frustrated. I respect our competitiveness, but we’ve got to learn to make football plays.

“It came down to making plays. They did, and we didn’t.”

Now, SDSU can’t do anything for three weeks but think about it.

Aztec Notes

Because they do not play until Nov. 3, the Aztecs will change their practice schedule for the next two weeks as Coach Al Luginbill attempts to get his players some rest and some time to study. SDSU will resume practicing Tuesday after taking today off. The players can expect a couple of days off over the next two weeks.

Statistics: Quarterback Dan McGwire is third in the nation in total offense (300 yards a game) and sixth in passing (144.6 rating). The Aztecs are third in passing offense (337.2 yards) and seventh in both team offense (484.6) and scoring offense (37.2 points). . . . McGwire became a receiver for an instant in the second quarter Saturday when one of his passes was deflected at the line of scrimmage, bounced, and he caught it. He was tackled for no gain. . . . Receiver Patrick Rowe has more than 100 yards receiving in four consecutive games. Dennis Arey’s streak of 100 or more yards receiving was snapped at four when he was held to 64 yards by UCLA.