Sept. 28, 2002
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SAN DIEGO - UCLA's Cory Paus threw two touchdown passes and San Diego State mistakes led to the first 23 points as the Bruins routed the Aztecs 43-7 Saturday.
UCLA (3-1) had no trouble rebounding from a 31-17 loss to Colorado that knocked it out of the Top 25, and improved to 17-0-1 in this series. The teams met for the first time since 1993, when the Bruins beat the Aztecs for the 10th straight season.
San Diego State (0-5), under first-year coach Tom Craft, is off to the worst start in school history. The Aztecs have lost 13 straight to Pac-10 teams dating to 1996.
Paus, who left with 1:46 to play in the third quarter, completed 12 of 21 passes for 216 yards. Tight end Mike Seidman had six catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
San Diego State receiver J.R. Tolver, who led the nation with 11 catches and 179.25 yards per game coming in, had only three catches for 30 yards. Kassim Osgood, who ranked third nationally in catches and receiving yards per game, had 10 receptions for 145 yards. He also committed one of five Aztecs turnovers.
The Bruins scored 26 points in the second quarter to blow the game open and take a 33-7 halftime lead.
UCLA's most impressive touchdown was Paus' 64-yard pass to Seidman down the middle of the field that made it 30-7. Seidman caught the ball at the SDSU 30 and outran strong safety Josh Dean into the end zone.
The Bruins led 23-0 with 9:41 left in the second quarter, thanks to two Aztecs turnovers and two special teams blunders.
With San Diego State's Adam Hall throwing from his end zone late in the first quarter, linebacker Marcus Reese intercepted a tipped pass at the 6. Two plays later, fullback Manuel White scored on a 4-yard run.
On the first play of the second quarter, UCLA's Matt Clark blocked Brian Simnjanovski's punt and Jibril Raymo recovered in the end zone to make it 14-0.
Four plays into the ensuing San Diego State possession, Osgood fumbled after a catch, which Brandon Chillar recovered at midfield. Paus capped the drive with a 37-yard TD pass to Craig Bragg on third-and-28.
UCLA added a safety when Aztecs deep snapper Casey Naylor sent the ball about 2 feet over Simnjanovski's head and through the end zone.
San Diego State's only score was Hall's 10-yard pass to Osgood in the second quarter.
UCLA's Chris Griffith kicked field goals of 33 and 46 yards, and Tyler Ebell scored on a 2-yard run.
By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer