BRUINS TAKEN TO THE LIMIT BY HUSKIES SCRAPPY WASHINGTON CHALLENGES UNDEFEATED SEASON.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PASADENA - For two weeks, UCLA players walked around campus with chests puffed out, and talked about reclaiming part of Los Angeles in the college football scene.

Gone, or supposedly, were the dud games. Gone, or supposedly, was the overlooking of a less talented opponent.

Washington, a three-touchdown underdog, shut down the 20th-ranked Bruins running game, UCLA's offense sputtered and the defense constantly missed tackles.

But UCLA still eked out a 21-17 victory the Rose Bowl Saturday night as Maurice Drew scored from a yard out with 1:08 left in the game.

Quarterback Drew Olson directed his first ever fourth-quarter comeback. Keyed by a 40-yard pass to Marcus Everett, Drew capped off the drive.

UCLA last won as a ranked team Oct. 20, 2001, when the fourth-ranked Bruins beat California 56-17. UCLA had lost its last six when ranked.

Drew torched Washington's defense for a school-record 322 rushing yards and five touchdowns last year in Seattle, but was a focal point of the Huskies' defense this time. Drew rushed for 11 times for 25 yards through three quarters.

In a pitiful offensive display, the uninspired Bruins were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since a 27-0 loss to USC on Nov. 17, 2001.

And it took a muffed punt from Washington's Anthony Russo to set up UCLA's first score. Russo couldn't handle Aaron Perez's punt, and Rondey Van recovered on the Huskies' 28-yard line.

Olson connected on 24-yard out to Joe Cowan. Two plays later Olson rolled right and found tight end Marcedes Lewis open at the back corner of the end zone as UCLA pulled within 10-7 with 11:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Washington was able sustain long drives, and did so again to build a 17-7 lead with a solid running game and timely passes from quarterback Isaiah Stanback, who completed a key third-down pass to Sonny Shackleford for 20 yards. Stanback eventually capped off the nine-play, 70- yard drive with a 1-yard sneak with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter.

Finally, though, UCLA's offense clicked, and the Bruins answered Washington's drive with their most impressive of the contest. Olson was on target as he went 5 for 5 for 42 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown toss to fullback Michael Pitre, on the first play of the fourth quarter to pull the Bruins within 17-14.

After having two weeks to shake off the hangover of a big win against Oklahoma, get past it's first national ranking in nearly three years, and prove the bad losses are a thing of the past, the Bruins played one its worst halves under Dorrell. And that is no easy accomplishment.

Two plays into the second quarter the Huskies had a 10-0 lead, thanks to a Evan Knudson's 18-yard field goal and Kenny James' 20-yard run through the left side of the line.

Not only did the Huskies enjoy the first halftime lead against UCLA this season, but were dominant in doing it.

By the time James scored early in the second quarter, UCLA had run eight plays from scrimmage, had 16 yards of offense and had the ball for 2 minutes, 58 seconds. Meanwhile, the Huskies ran 24 plays, had 144 yards and possessed the ball for 12 minutes, 33 seconds.

In fact, throughout the first half, UCLA's offense resembled nothing like the one that averaged 49.3 points in its first three games.

Olson was erratic, missing five of his first six passes. Even when the Bruins defense forced a turnover - a fumble by Huskies tailback James Sims Jr. recovered by John Hale - the offense sputtered.

Two plays after taking over at midfield, Olson's pass to Brandon Breazel was tipped and intercepted by Josh Okoebor. It was UCLA's first turnover of the season.

However, the Bruins' missteps didn't end there. Unable to generate any consistent offense, it appeared Drew made a big special teams play when he returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. But Rodney Van was called for a block in the back, nullifying the return.

UCLA was able to gain one first down, but Olson's arm was hit during an attempted throw and the ball wobbled downfield before being intercepted by linebacker Joe Lobendahn.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) UCLA's Kevin Markey (28) avoids a tackle during the first half against Washington. The Bruins, who entered the game undefeated, trailed by 10 at halftime.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

(2) UCLA running back Maurice Drew jumps over a Washington player during Saturday night's game.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer