OLSON COOKS IN VICTORY THROWS FOR THREE TDS IN BRUINS' WIN OVER RICE UCLA 63, RICE 21.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer PASADENA - UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX quarterback Drew Olson Drew Olson (born April 6, 1983 in San Francisco, California) is a former starting quarterback for the University of California, Los Angeles football team, where he broke many of UCLA's passing records. talks about his comfort level in finally having a full grasp of the offense, of understanding defenses, and being at ease in the huddle and under center. All that was apparent Saturday, because Olson was never better than in Saturday night's 63-21 dismantling of Rice in front of 44,808 at the Rose Bowl. UCLA starts the season with consecutive wins for the first time in coach Karl Dorrell's three-year tenure. The Bruins blew open the game with five touchdowns in a span of 10:18 in the first half and scored the most points in a game since Dorrell took over. Olson completed 18 of 25 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, and was on the bench to watch the final 20 minutes. ``That was a good performance,'' Dorrell said. ``It was a challenging performance for us, to make what we believe in our program (to be) that next step. Here's a game that we're supposed to win decisively, and it was nice to see that come through.'' Rice (0-1) was overmatched, but in previous seasons that didn't always mean an easy UCLA victory. But this appeared effortless as the Bruins (2-0) amassed 299 yards in the first quarter and had 28 points after their first play of the second quarter. Olson connected on scoring passes of 39, 10, and 11 yards as UCLA scored touchdowns on each of its six first- half possessions, plus a punt return In American and Canadian football a punt return is one of the punt receiving team's options to respond to a punt. A player (usually a second or third string wide receiver or running back) positioned many yards from the line of scrimmage will attempt to catch or pick up the ball , and built a 49-14 halftime lead. He threw for 263 yards in the first half, surpassing his total in 20 of the 25 games he played in since 2003. ``(Coaches) did a good job of calling plays, and receivers did a good job of getting open, and I put it where I needed to put it,'' Olson said.``We were almost perfect. It's hard to get much better, but we can try.'' The Bruins should get a better test next week, when struggling Oklahoma (1-1) visits the Rose Bowl. The only potential downer down·er n. A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer. for the Bruins was a left shoulder injury junior defensive end Justin Hickman Justin Hickman (born July 20, 1985 in El Paso, Texas) is an American football defensive end with the Washington Redskins. He played collegiately at the University of California at Los Angeles. suffered at the end of the first half. Hickman was diagnosed with a sublex of his left shoulder and his status for the Sooners is uncertain. UCLA's receiving corps was much-maligned after catching two passes in the season-opener at San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. State, but the group broke out against outmanned Rice, which elected to double-team, and sometimes triple-team, tight end Marcedes Lewis Marcedes Alexis Lewis (born May 19, 1984 in Los Alamitos, California) is an American football tight end who plays for the National Football League Jacksonville Jaguars. He was drafted from UCLA as the 28th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. . That allowed Junior Taylor, who was held without a catch in the opener, to run wild in the secondary, and crush the Owls with quick slants. He had five catches for 93 yards and two scores. ``I like the way we came out and played this game,'' Bruins strong safety Jarrad Page Jarrad Page (born October 19, 1984) was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played for UCLA in his collegiate career. Before attending UCLA, Page grew up in San Leandro, California, attending San Leandro High School, where Page was the top said. ``We came out and took care of business like we were supposed to. Even more than we were supposed to. People didn't think we'd come out and play like that.'' Taylor's first touch resulted in a 39-yard catch and run on UCLA's third play from scrimmage A play from scrimmage is the activity of the games of Canadian football and American football during which one team tries to advance the ball or to score, and the other team tries to stop them or take the ball away. . He caught a 10-yard scoring pass on a quick slant in the second quarter as Rice continued to play him with single coverage. ``I was surprised,'' Taylor said. ``They did it the whole first half, and they had to pay for it.'' Bruins tailback tail·back n. Football The back on an offensive team who lines up farthest from the line of scrimmage. tailback Noun Brit a queue of traffic stretching back from an obstruction Maurice Drew rushed for 95 yards on 11 carries, including a 4-yard run to give UCLA the lead for good, 14-7 with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter. But the excitement he provided came midway through the second quarter. Drew, who scored on a 72-yard punt return last week, fielded a punt on his own 34, cut left and raced along the left sideline sideline See on the sidelines. , making a slight juke on punter Jared Scruggs before sprinting to the end zone to put UCLA ahead 35-7 with 12:51 remaining in the half. Drew tied UCLA's single- season record for punt return touchdowns, and tied the school's career mark with three scores off punt returns. Olson, who completed 15 of 20 in the half, capped off UCLA's most prolific first half in 25 years. He found Brandon Breazell for an 11-yard score as the Bruins took a 49-14 lead 49 seconds before intermission. It was the most points scored in a half by UCLA since putting up 56 in the first 30 minutes of the season-opener against Colorado in 1980. ``When they got rolling, it was amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. ,'' UCLA defensive end/linebacker Bruce Davis This article is about the American football player. For the American businessman, see Bruce Davis (video game industry). Bruce Davis (born June 21, 1956, in Rutherfordton, North Carolina) is a former professional American football player. said. ``It was a rare occasion. There's no other way to explain it than it was beautiful to watch.'' Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) UCLA's Chris Markey, left, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Rice at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. (2) Bruins QB Drew Olson threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns against Rice while sitting for the final 20 minutes. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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