Defense comes alive at the right time

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- DeWayne Walker, UCLA’s defensive coordinator, had been waiting for this to happen all season.

The Bruins’ defense, dominating at times a year ago, on Saturday finally flexed its muscles during a 40-14 victory over Oregon State.

The Beavers were limited to 248 total yards, only 146 through the air. The Bruins had been allowing 304 passing yards a game, the most among Pacific 10 Conference teams.

“We met today and we talked about our first four games and what we want to try and get done the next four games,” Walker said. “We needed to be more consistent and that’s what we were tonight. I’m real happy with the response.”

The Bruins’ defense forced three of the Beavers’ five turnovers -- the other two came on muffed kickoff returns -- and handled everything Oregon State tried after the first quarter.

“A little birdie told us they were going to try to establish the run,” Walker said. “They wanted to take some heat off their quarterback. I always ask my defensive backs if they can play man-to-man. When they tell me, ‘Yeah,’ then we’re going to bring linebacker blitzes to plug the gaps.”

Part of the defensive effort included an intense conversation between Walker and cornerback Trey Brown in the first quarter. Brown then intercepted two passes.

“We had a little conversation and I challenged him a little bit,” Walker said.

“He was frustrated because it appeared I was right and he knew I was right and he didn’t want to hear it, but I kept going. I told him [later] I was going to start yelling at him more if I can get two picks a game.”

Brown has three interceptions this season.

“They keep throwing at me and I’m going to keep taking the ball away,” Brown said.

The Beavers had been allowing only 29 rushing yards a game. The Bruins chiseled out 133 -- 80 by Kahlil Bell, who scored two touchdowns.

Tackle Aleksey Lanis missed the second half with a knee injury. Bell played the fourth quarter with a bruised shoulder and tailback Chris Markey missed most of the first half with a toe injury.

When sophomore punter Kyle Loomis quit Oregon State just before the season started, it didn’t seem like such a big deal. Kicker Alexis Serna, a senior and a preseason All-American, would just do it all.

But punting isn’t Serna’s thing. Serna was despondent Saturday, having averaged 28.9 yards a punt.

The Bruins started drives at their own 40, 50, 43, 27, 39, Oregon State’s 47, UCLA’s 31 and Oregon State’s 21 after Serna punts.

“I was awful,” Serna mumbled.

Serna’s punting disappointment overshadowed his milestone. He made two extra points, his 118th and 119th consecutively, to set a school record.

Before the season, he had hoped to aim at the Pac-10 record of 139 straight by Arizona State’s Jesse Ainsworth, but the Beavers would have to score 20 touchdowns in seven games.

chris.foster@latimes.com

diane.pucin@latimes.com