Monday, July 27, 1998
UCLA recruits shine in 'Shrine' game
RECRUITS: California's defense holds back Texas for 10-5 All-Star victory
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
UCLA's California recruits proved why they are regarded by many as the number one class in the nation on Saturday, at the 47th Annual All-Star Football Classic at Cerritos College.
Each recruit had a lasting effect on the outcome of the game, as the California defense shut down Texas for a 10-5 victory in front of 7,500.
Seven out of UCLA's ten new recruits played defense for the California side and halted Texas in their tracks, especially when it came down to crunch time, limiting Texas to only eight yards on offense in the third quarter.
Last year, UCLA's potent defense racked up 40 turnovers. The Bruins' new recruits picked up where the graduating squad left off by having a hand in two of Texas' turnovers.
"I don't know how to explain it," defensive back Audie Attar said. The UCLA-bound Attar had a fumble recovery to his credit.
"(Creating) turnovers is just California ball. We should have had a shut-out, but we had a few lapses which created chances for them to score."
Most of those chances came by the way of shoddy special teams play.
The first mistake was a mental one by California punt returner Herman Ho-Ching, who will attend Oregon. After a defensive stop slowed building Texas offensive pressure, Ho-Ching caught a punt, then proceeded to backtrack to the end zone where he was tackled for a safety, giving Texas the 2-0 advantage with 5:38 to play in the first quarter.
The California offense sputtered with a running game which only amassed 78 yards in the first half and 53 yards in the air. Consequently, the defense, led by UCLA linebacker prospect Robert Thomas, had to make amends for crucial special teams mistakes. Even when California appeared to be within scoring range, kicker Hayden Epstein missed two field goals.
"I was kind of nervous, because we didn't know what (Texas was) going to run. But after a few plays and a few rotations our defense began to settle down," Thomas said. Thomas led all players with 12 tackles.
UCLA's defensive recruits made 21 out of the 44 California tackles, created two sacks and recovered two fumbles to lead the way.
At halftime, with Texas holding onto a 5-0 lead, California was well within striking distance. That's when the UCLA offensive recruits turned in a big performance.
With Southern Cal recruit Carson Palmer at quarterback, Texas blitzed, forcing Palmer to scramble out of the pocket where he found UCLA bound running back DeShaun Foster, open in the flat. Foster, out of Tustin High School, would rumble down to the California 40-yard line, where he was up-ended on the tackle.
With Foster shaken up, Head Coach Ed Burke made a gutsy move and sent in UCLA recruit Adam Geitner, originally listed as a linebacker, to catch a screen pass originally drawn up for Foster. The move paid off, however, as Geitner powered his way to the 18 yard line.
Despite adept play-calling, California would be unable to punch in the ball in the next three possessions. Facing a fourth and two and down by five, Burke's first decision was to go for the field goal. He changed his mind, however, and accompanied by a smattering of boos from the stands Burke called a time out and gave way to the offense.
The UCLA offensive connection eventually finished off the six -play, 54-yard drive. DeShaun Foster received the hand-off, and quickly bounced left before spinning off a player and diving into the end zone, giving California a 6-5 lead.
"At fourth and two, I was just trying to get two yards," Foster said. "When I hit the first guy, I just spun off him."
Foster would be rewarded with the MVP trophy at the end of the day as a result of his 10 carries for 44 yards performance.
"The key to that play was DeShaun's heart couldn't be stopped," Burke said of the MVP's game-winning touchdown run.
However, the real MVP appeared to be the California defense, which had two key interceptions and a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
The biggest defensive play would be by USC recruit Joey Boese, who picked off a Texas pass at the goal line when the Texans were threatening to take the lead. Texas had received great field position by another California special teams gaffe, as Chris Cash muffed a punt return.
UCLA recruits turned in all-around stellar performances, picking up an MVP trophy along the way, as California once again denied Texas victory in the Shrine game. In the six year history of the game, Texas has never been able to prevail over the Californians. But unlike last year's high scoring affair, this one was fought by the defensive players -- most notably the ones headed to Westwood.
JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin
Defensive back Audie Attar intercepts a pass for California during the Shrine All-Star game. California beat Texas 10-5.