UCLA NOTEBOOK: PERRY'S PROMISE PAYS OFF.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PASADENA - Senior receiver Craig Bragg, with his left arm in a sling because of a dislocated shoulder, missed a game for the first time in his UCLA career. So his replacement, Tab Perry, made a promise.

``I told Craig I was going to get him a touchdown,'' Perry said. ``I told him before the game, `I owe you one.' ''

Perry made good on his word early in the third quarter when he hauled in a 23-yard scoring pass from quarterback Drew Olson in UCLA's 33-10 beating of San Diego State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

Perry, a close friend of Bragg's since their high school days in the Bay Area, finished with three catches for 34 yards, far surpassing his three-game total of two catches for 10 yards. Despite missing last season because of academics and being dismissed from UCLA in January only to return in August, Perry said the catch was ordinary. But reaction from teammates and the coaching staff told a different story.

After beating a pair of Aztecs defensive backs with a double move, Perry caught the ball in the right corner of the end zone to give the Bruins a 27-3 lead. When he got to the sideline, he was hugged by Bruins coach Karl Dorrell, then congratulated by a number of teammates.

``He ran a great route,'' Dorrell said. ``I watched him the whole way. He ran a great post-corner route and Drew threw a great ball. It was an NFL ball. He had people in his face and he threw it before the receiver broke out of the pattern.''

--London rests: UCLA inside linebacker Justin London (ankle) was told Friday he would not play, but that nearly changed in the second half. London said Dorrell ``alerted me to warm up,'' but London was not needed.

However, London said he would play next week when Pac-10 play resumes with Arizona. Also not playing because of injury were defensive tackle Kenneth Lombard (shoulder), safety Dennis Keyes (shoulder) and linebacker Aaron Whittington (hip).

--Monumental moment: It took until midway through the second quarter of Karl Dorrell's 17th game as UCLA's coach for Bruins' fullback Michael Pitre to finally get a carry.

It could be a while before he gets another one. On second-and-short from San Diego State's 4-yard line, Pitre carried for no gain.

--Recruiting trail: UCLA had a bundle of recruits, including one of their top targets in Charter Oaks defensive back Will Harris, at the game on unofficial visits. Also in attendance were Oak Park receiver Gavin Ketchum, Chaminade High of West Hills quarterback Chris Turner and tight end Logan Paulsen, Mission Viejo quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is committed to USC, and his teammate, junior running back Chane Moline.

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UCLA 33, SAN DIEGO ST. 10