SPECIAL MOMENTS: WR BREAZELL RETURNS A SAVIOR FOR THE BRUINS ONSIDE KICKOFF TOUCHDOWNS HELP THWART NORTHWESTERN RALLIES, EARN HIM SPECIAL-TEAMS HONORS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

EL PASO, Texas - UCLA receiver Brandon Breazell needed the help of linebacker Justin London to get escorted off the Sun Bowl field Friday.

Breazell didn't win the MVP trophy, but he might as well have with the way he was mobbed after the game. One little boy incessantly tugged at his leg and everywhere he turned, someone wanted an autograph or picture.

London came to Breazell's rescue - just as Breazell had come to UCLA's rescue.

Breazell returned two onside kicks for touchdowns in the final 2:24 to help UCLA secure its 50-38 win over Northwestern in the Sun Bowl. That's why he was such a popular man afterward. It's rare enough for one onside kick return in a game, but two by the same player is unheard of.

Northwestern had just scored on an 8-yard pass from Brett Basanez to Mark Philmore. Amado Villarreal, playing for the benched Joel Howells, kicked a high onside kick. Breazell pulled it down, realized there was open field and ran 42 yards untouched.

``The first one kind of stunned me, so I just stood there for a second,'' Breazell said. ``I scored and when I got there, I saluted the troops (from Fort Bliss).''

His work wasn't done. And neither was that of the Northwestern offense. The Wildcats moved 83 yards in 2 minutes, culminating in Basanez's touchdown throw to Shaun Herbert from 5 yards out to pull Northwestern within 43-38.

The next play was eerily similar to the first. Villarreal had another high onside kick and Breazell, who normally excels as a receiver, was in the same position. He plucked the ball out of the air and ran 45 yards for a touchdown. The second time, he even evaded a couple of defenders.

``I wanted the second one,'' Breazell said. ``It happened the same way. I just wanted it so bad.''

He scored with 18 seconds left. And this one finally sealed UCLA's victory.

``I haven't seen anything like it,'' Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. ``We didn't execute the play very well. It was a heads-up play on their part. We have a plan for when that happens. That kick is not as easy as it looks. We had some guys run right by the ball carrier.''

Breazell and his teammates weren't used to the West Texas wind. On top of that, Breazell has asthma. He used his inhaler before the game and at halftime, but had enough in the tank for his late touchdowns.

``I couldn't believe it,'' UCLA linebacker Spencer Havner said. ``That was amazing. That was probably just the kicker's fault. I thought the kick would've been more toward the sideline.''

And less in Breazell's direction the second time.

Breazell got a trophy afterward for the special teams player of the game. He carried it around the field and many probably figured it was for the player of the game. Voting was completed before Breazell's pair of touchdowns, prompting an obvious change.

It was only right that such a rare accomplishment be accompanied by hardware.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Brandon Breazell (1) high-fives Marcus Everett after Breazell scored on the second of his two onside kick returns Friday, clinching the Bruins victory.

Mark Lambie/Associated Press

Box:

Vitalis SUN BOWL: No. 17 UCLA 50, NORTHWESTERN 38