DANIEL WONG/ Daily Bruin Senior Staff Punter Nake
Fikse might get more attempts without DeShaun Foster on
the field for UCLA’s game against Oregon.
By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff
The road-weary Bruins return to Pasadena on Saturday to try to
turn their season around against the No. 7 Oregon Ducks, and they
will be without their most potent offensive weapon.
The Bruins are coming off two consecutive defeats in which the
team’s performance was a far cry from the six straight
victories they tallied up to open the season. The offense has
struggled of late, and injuries have taken their toll on a team
that had national championship dreams.
To complicate matters, the Bruins will be without the services
of leading rusher DeShaun Foster. Foster was suspended for the game
pending an NCAA investigation of an “extra benefits”
situation.
According to head coach Bob Toledo, sophomore Akil Harris will
start and be backed up by Manuel White.
“We’re wounded right now,” linebacker Robert
Thomas said. “But we have to fight back.”
The Ducks enter the contest riding a two-game winning streak.
Last week they scored 42 points in a victory over Arizona State. It
was the fourth time in the last five games that Oregon scored 42 or
more.
“This is one of the best offenses we are going to
see,” Thomas said. “They have a really balanced
offensive attack.”
 The Ducks’ last two games serve as fine examples of
their balance. Last week, quarterback Joey Harrington threw for 319
yards and six touchdowns. The week before, the Ducks rushed for 446
yards in a victory at Washington State.
This poses a problem for a defense that is still recovering from
injuries. Safety Jason Stephens will probably not play, which means
red shirt freshman Ben Emanuel will start. Emanuel played well in
Stephens’ absence last week against WSU. Defensive end Rusty
Williams and safety Marques Anderson also entered the week banged
up, but both should be healthy enough to compete.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Bruins are hurting even
worse. Quarterback Cory Paus will get the start despite an injured
thumb. While wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon returns to the lineup
for the first time in three weeks, flanker Tab Perry will miss the
game with broken ribs.
In light of the injuries and suspension, the Bruins are looking
for a near-capacity Rose Bowl crowd to make the difference.
“It’s good to play them (Oregon) at home,”
linebacker Ryan Nece said. “We’re hoping to have a sold
out house, and our fans are going to get behind us. People are
still supporting this team.”
The Bruins are as excited to be playing away from Eugene as they
are to be playing at home. A year ago the Ducks sent UCLA into a
season smashing tailspin that led to the then-undefeated Bruins
losing three of their last four games.
“It’s a big advantage to have them at home,”
offensive lineman Bryce Bohlander said. “It’ll be good
to have them back here like we did a couple of years
ago.”
A couple of years ago the Bruins’ 34-29 home victory over
Oregon provided a rare highlight during a season in which the team
did not make it to a bowl game.
A chance to end the Ducks’ chances at a national title and
Pac-10 championship this season would go a long way toward soothing
the pain of two straight defeats.