Late-game rally tames Wildcats

Published: Monday, December 14, 1998

Monday, December 14, 1998

ARIZONA: Tailbacks help struggling Bruins surge ahead in fourth quarter

By Jeff Kmiotek

Daily Bruin Staff

What do you get when you lose your starting tailback, your quarterback completes just 10 of 24 passes, and you're playing the 10th-best team in the nation on its home turf?

If you're the UCLA Bruins, a convincing 52-28 victory. The second-ranked Bruins (4-0, 2-0 in Pac-10) blew up in the fourth quarter, parting the red sea of Arizona fans with three touchdowns on three consecutive offensive plays to turn a close game into a demolition.

Even with Jermaine Lewis out serving his suspension, it was the tailbacks who led the way.

Freshman DeShaun Foster stepped up and kept the Bruins close in the first half, while Keith Brown put the game away with two straight TD runs in the fourth quarter.

"Keith and I didn't want to be the letdown of the team," said Foster. "I knew I could run hard, and I just wanted to show what I could do."

Foster's first run was his most impressive, a 37-yard effort in which he bounced off defenders like a mad pinball before reaching pay dirt for UCLA's opening score. Foster scored later on a one-yard stroll and ended with 122 yards on 20 carries.

"I was really impressed," said quarterback Cade McNown. "(Foster) ran the ball tremendously. He kept his feet moving, kept breaking tackles. It was huge."

McNown, on the other hand, struggled in the first half before settling in after intermission. He completed just two of his first 10 passes, visibly nervous playing in front of the fourth-largest crowd in Arizona history. He threw for 171 yards, snapping a streak of 18 straight games with over 200 passing yards.

But McNown did make the big plays and helped extend a more important string - UCLA's 14-game winning streak, currently the longest roll in the nation.

"In the first half we got in some bad situations, but that's all right," said McNown. "You just bite the bullet and know that eventually the best team will surface and show itself."

McNown also had a big hand in the play that proved to be the knockout punch.

Up 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Al Borges dug deep into the playbook and pulled out a gem. McNown faked an option, stepped back and fired over the middle to a wide-open Danny Farmer, who grabbed it in stride for a 64-yard TD and a commanding 38-28 lead.

The touchdown was McNown's 50th at UCLA, tying him for the school record. It silenced the raging red crowd and put an end to any noise the Wildcats would be making.

The Bruins scored on their next two offensive plays, both long TD runs by Brown. He sprinted in for a 54-yarder and followed it up with a 20-yard surge.

While Arizona was hyping the game as possibly the biggest in school history, the Bruins played it like any other.

"It hurts bad. I don't like the way it feels at all," said Arizona defensive tackle Daniel Greer. "I can't stand it."

AARON MICHAEL TOUT

DeShaun Foster carries the ball as Brad Melsby clears the way. Foster ran for 118 yards to lead the Bruins in rushing against UA.

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