DOUBLE JEOPARDY BRUINS SURVIVE BULLDOGS' BITE UCLA 24, FRESNO ST. 21.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

PASADENA - That was hardly the little break in action, the calm between storms the Bruins had privately desired.

Between their bimonthly meetings of third-ranked programs, UCLA took on a Fresno State team Saturday in a game that was a struggle from dismal beginning to very scary end.

If they ultimately left with a 24-21 victory before a Rose Bowl crowd of 45,605, they also came away with continued problems with their special teams, a ragged offensive production and unexpected quarterback concerns.

The Bruins led just 10-7 early in the fourth quarter and everything reeked of effort, particularly offensively.

Then backup quarterback Scott McEwan, who took over for Ryan McCann to start the second half, and tailback DeShaun Foster, who otherwise had a quiet night, led the Bruins to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns that appeared to have UCLA comfortably ahead 24-7 with 8:49 to play.

Only nothing was going to come easily for UCLA on this night. A Bruins defense that had been outstanding throughout, suddenly looked vulnerable. It allowed Fresno State quarterback David Carr to lead the Bulldogs to a pair of quick touchdowns.

Carr actually had the Bulldogs driving for the upset, or at least the tie, with the ball at the UCLA 43 when he fumbled the snap with 1:17 left. Safety Marques Anderson recovered for the Bruins, to finally bring some measure of calm to the UCLA faithful.

``We're 2-0, OK?'' UCLA coach Bob Toledo said, opening his postgame press conference.

Not that anyone figures this will make No. 3 Michigan, here next Saturday, nervous. Not with an offense that could never seem to find its footing.

McCann, who had played so well in taking over for the injured Corey Paus last week against Alabama that Toledo suggested possibly keeping him there all season, couldn't even last the second half against Fresno.

McCann completed 12 of 23 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown, but had trouble with the blitz, missed several receivers and made several audibles that puzzled the UCLA coaching staff.

Toledo turned to McEwan to open the second half. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 29 yards but also was sacked twice. Toledo said he was uncertain who he would start against Michigan.

McEwan led the Bruins on a 12-play, 59-yard drive in the fourth quarter - Foster scoring on a fourth-and-1 - to give UCLA a 17-7 lead with 11:16 to play. When the Bulldogs couldn't answer, Foster (140 yards on 29 carries) broke loose on a 49-yard scoring run that seemed to wrap it up.

Except that Carr (20 of 32, 249 yards), threw quick scoring passes of 16 yards and 32 yards to Charles Smith to put Fresno State (0-2) back in it.

``I felt like the defense was pretty much in control the whole game, until we gave up a couple big scores at the end to make the score seem closer than it was,'' UCLA linebacker Robert Thomas said. ``I thought the intensity was there. We knew they would be ready.''

The first half was almost the anti-Alabama game, although the Bruins did somehow manage to salvage that 10-7 lead.

UCLA appeared uninspired early, particularly on offense. And, if historical progression dictates, apparently UCLA will start every game this season with the special teams giving up a quick touchdown.

Last week the first punt was returned for a touchdown; this time, showing amazing versatility, it was an errant punt snap setting up a quick score.

McCann checked off a third-and-1 run to a pass play in a formation with just one receiver and fullback Matt Stanley caught the pass, tipped by linebacker Tim Skipper, for a 3-yard loss. The audible left offensive coordinator Alan Borges screaming at McCann, but it would get worse. The attempted punt on the ensuing play failed, as center Jeff Grau's snap sailed over the fingers of 5-foot-9 punter Nate Fikse.

Fikse recovered and was tackled at the 6, where Carr connected with tight end Alec Grego for a 3-yard score three plays later.

The Bruins answered with one ugly 15-play, 83-yard drive. It was kept alive three different times by personal fouls on the Bulldogs - once on a failed third down and another on a punt. McCann found Freddie Mitchell down the left sideline with a 20-yard TD strike to cap the drive.

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Photo: UCLA running back DeShaun Foster is met by the Fresno State defense near the end zone in the fourth quarter during the Bruins' 24-21 victory on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. Foster has 140 yards on 29 carries.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer