SUPPORTING CAST EARNS RAVES.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer A few minutes before kickoff, 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 freshman linebacker Santi Hall visualized the first start of his career. He saw alignments, he saw assignments, he saw tackles and blitzes and even a sack. But an interception? ``I went through all the plays, but it never crossed my mind that I'd get a pick,'' Hall said. Yet his third-quarter interception, which set up UCLA's fourth touchdown, was one of several big plays from supporting players Noun 1. supporting players - a cast other than the principals ensemble cast, cast of characters, dramatis personae - the actors in a play in the Bruins' 42-24 victory Saturday at Houston. With only two senior starters on defense - and four listed on the two-deep chart - UCLA's season may hinge on Verb 1. hinge on - be contingent on; "The outcomes rides on the results of the election"; "Your grade will depends on your homework" depend on, depend upon, devolve on, hinge upon, turn on, ride continuing contributions from unlikely sources. Effective as they are, as many plays as they make, seniors Larry Atkins and Brendan Ayanbadejo can't do it all every game. ``We have to rely on those (younger) guys,'' Bruins coach Bob Toledo Bob Toledo (born March 4, 1946, in San Jose, California) is an American football coach, recently hired as head coach at Tulane University. He is best-known as the thirteenth head coach at UCLA. said. ``They've got to continue to get better. They'll grow and mature each week. But we've got to continue to improve.'' Cornerback Ryan Roques Roques is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:
Late in the second quarter, he allowed a 34-yard touchdown. Early in the third, he returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown. ``It was gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. for me to make the play,'' said Roques, a junior who converted from tailback last season. ``I'm just glad I was able to do my job.'' Hall, who started for the injured Michael Wiley Michael Wiley may refer to:
End Travor Turner, a pass-rush specialist, had three tackles-for-loss and deflected the pass that eventually landed in Hall's hands. Inside linebacker Ryan Nece, who switched from safety in the spring, had four tackles and a sack. Seldom-used outside linebacker Billy Pieper - No. 43, in case you couldn't put a name with the number - had a sack. End Steve Sua, linebacker Ali Abdul-Azziz, nose guard Micah Webb, linebacker Cheyane Caldwell, safety Jason Stephens - the list of unexpected playmakers Playmakers is a TV series on ESPN that depicted the lives of the players on a fictional professional football team. The show starred Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith, Russell Hornsby and Tony Denison. went on and on. Even senior Tod McBride, a third-string safety, chipped in. His blocked punt in the second quarter helped turn the game after Houston had dashed to a surprising 6-0 lead. ``It was tough out there,'' McBride said. ``Houston came to play. They weren't going to hand it to us. But emotionally, we got it together and made some big plays. Without them, the game would have been a lot closer.'' |
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