UCLA TURNOVERS: LATE GAFFES MADE IT HARDER GIVEAWAYS IN RED ZONE HURT THE MOST.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer PASADENA - As Oklahoma State players made their way through the Rose Bowl tunnel after Saturday's opener against 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 , one fan repeatedly chanted: ``Easy team to beat! Easy team to beat.'' He was right. The Bruins committed four turnovers, including two inside the Cowboys' 20-yard line. Everyone wearing powder blue insisted UCLA's 31-20 loss would have been different without the mistakes. UCLA certainly had trouble stopping the run, but nothing hurt more than two fumbles and two interceptions, both of which were tipped. Oklahoma State scored 14 points off turnovers and had two turnovers of its own. ``I feel like they never stopped us,'' Bruins offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a football team in the National Football League or College football who is in charge of the offense. This position aids the head coach by designing and scripting plays, delegating work to offensive position coaches during Tom Cable said. ``We just turned the ball over and that's the shame of it all. We should have scored 40-some odd points and been here huggin' and yellin' and hollerin'.'' Instead, the Cowboys were the ones rejoicing. Their running game produced 426 yards, including 261 by Vernand Morency Vernand Morency (born February 4, 1980 in Miami, Florida) is an American football running back currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. . UCLA receiver Craig Bragg Bold text Craig Milton Bragg (born March 15, 1982 in San Jose, California) is an American football wide receiver. He attended UCLA and Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, CA. fumbled on the first series of the game. Bragg was hit by defensive back Jamie Thompson Jamie Thompson , also known by the stage name J'aime Tambeur, is a Canadian musician. He has been a member of the bands The Unicorns, Islands and Th' Corn Gangg. On May 28th, 2006, it was reported on islandsareforever.com that Thompson had left Islands. , the ball popped loose and Robert Jones Robert Jones may refer to
The next two turnovers were even more damaging because they were committed at Oklahoma State's 14- and 12-yard lines, respectively. ``That just sealed the deal,'' Cowboys running back Shawn Willis said. ``Those turnovers helped a lot.'' UCLA's Maurice Drew rushed for 92 yards but lost the ball early in the second quarter. On third-and-2, Drew ran up the middle and was stripped of the ball. The Cowboys used a nine-play, 81-yard drive to score again for a 21-14 lead. UCLA's final turnovers came in the last 7:46. A 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. pass was tipped by an Oklahoma State defender, then Tab Perry Tab Wilson Perry (born January 20, 1982 in Pennsylvania and raised in Milpitas, California) is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. He attended UCLA. Played wide receiver and safety in High School wearing the jersey number 3. tipped it before OSU's Jamie Thompson made the interception. UCLA was at Cowboys' 14 and had it scored, it could have tried a two-point conversion In American football and Canadian football, a team may try to score a two-point conversion (score two points) instead of an extra point (one point) immediately after it scores a touchdown. and been down just three points with plenty of time remaining. ``Those are two critical spots, we were going to score,'' Olson said. ``That kills the offense. It kills teams to turn the ball over in the red zone.'' And makes it easy on others. On the final turnover, Vernon Grant picked off an Olson pass intended for Perry with 3:44 left. Oklahoma State just ran out the clock. Although the Bruins' defense struggled in the first half, they allowed just three points in the second half. UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr dismissed the notion that the turnovers were frustrating since his group didn't force any turnovers. ``It's real hard when you know you can win and you've been working so hard,'' safety Ben Emanuel said. ``You're right there and something bad happens.'' Jill Painter, (818)713-3615 jill.painter(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Oklahoma State defensive back Vernon Grant, right, intercepts a ball deflected off of UCLA wide receiver Tab Perry. Matt Sayles/Associated Press |
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