Sept 28, 2003
Final Stats?|? Notes
By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Drew Olson hit Junior Taylor for a 41-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to snap UCLA out of a lethargic start and the Bruins beat San Diego State 20-10 Saturday night.
UCLA (2-2) scored a touchdown for the first time in two home games this year as it bounced back from an embarrassing 59-24 loss at No. 1 Oklahoma. The Bruins improved to 18-0-1 against San Diego State in a series dating to 1922.
UCLA's defense also woke up in the second half, intercepting Matt Dlugolecki on consecutive plays to allow the Bruins to score 10 points in a span of 1:01 early in the fourth quarter.
Olson completed 18 of 28 passes for 258 yards, but fumbled three times, setting up both San Diego State scores. Taylor had 110 yards on seven catches.
San Diego State (3-2) has lost 14 straight games to Pac-10 teams. San Diego State had won two straight, against Texas-El Paso and Samford following its 16-13 loss at then-No. 2 Ohio State on Sept. 6.
With the score tied at 3, Olson stepped up in the pocket to avoid pressure and threw long for Taylor, who got behind a defender and made a nice catch in the end zone 3:28 into the third quarter.
The TD came one play after San Diego State's Jacob Elimimian was called for pass interference.
Taylor had caught only five passes for 26 yards in the first three games.
Linebacker Spencer Havner got Olson off the hook after his second fumble, intercepting Dlugolecki and returning it 50 yards to the San Diego State 28 late in the third quarter. That set up a 24-yard field goal by Justin Medlock on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 13-3 lead.
Dlugolecki's pass was intercepted by C.J. Niusulu on San Diego State's next play from scrimmage, setting up Olson's 11-yard TD pass to Ryan Smith.
After Olson's third fumble, San Diego State moved 81 yards in nine plays, getting a 7-yard scoring run from Michael Franklin with 6:57 left.
Dlugolecki was 19-of-37 for 110 yards.
The teams played a lackluster first half, which ended with a 3-3 tie.
UCLA committed five penalties for 58 yards before it had the ball for three full possessions, including dual 15-yarders on one play that left the Bruins with a first-and-40 from their 19.
SDSU's Josh Dean recovered a fumble by Olson on the UCLA 35, setting up a 25-yard field goal by J.C. Mejia early in the second quarter.
UCLA then had a 13-play drive, but had to settle for Medlock's 27-yard field goal.