■ Game of the week
UCLA and ASU face off after difficult losses
Both teams suffered losses to top-10 ranked teams,
but only one will be able to stop the streak Saturday
BY ALEX TAM
FREELANCE REPORTER
The mood around the UCLA and
Arizona State football teams is
sheer disappointment after each
suffered its first conference loss of
the season last weekend.
Only one of these teams will get
back on the winning track when
UCLA (4-2 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Con
ference) travels to face off against
Arizona State (5-1, 2-1) in Tempe,
Ariz., at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
The game will mark the 21st
meeting between the two teams and
the first since 1999. The Bruins lead
the overall series 13-6-1, but have lost
the last two meetings, including a
thrilling 28-27 loss five years ago.
UCLA is now coming off a 45-28
loss to No. 7 California, in which its
defense surrendered a whopping
550 total yards of offense to the
Golden Bears.
Head coach Karl Dorrell said the
Bruins are treating last week’s loss as
a learning experience amidst a very
difficult portion of the schedule that
will feature Stanford, Oregon and No.
1 USC to end the season.
“The teams we play at the end of
the schedule are all very capable of
doing great things in the conference,”
Dorrell said. “We have to make the
improvement that is necessary to win
these football games.”
The one constant for the Bruins has
been the play of their quarterback,
Drew Olson. In his past two games,
Olson has been nearly flawless, pass
ing for 533 yards, eight touchdowns
and more importantly, zero intercep
tions. His eight touchdowns in two
games tied a UCLA record set by
Wayne Cook in 1993.
“He is doing exactly what we antici
pated him doing,” said Dorrell, who is
his second season as head coach. “He
is at a comfort level where his ability
GOTW, page 10B
* PAC-10
USC breaks away
from pack to claim
top spot in Pac-10
Arizona State, California, Stanford, UCLA,
Oregon tied for second place in conference
BY SCOITI. ADAMS
FREELANCE SPORTS REPORTER
Last weekend, the number of unde
feated teams in the Pacific-10 Confer
ence was reduced to one after No.l
Southern California trounced No. 21
Arizona State 45-7, giving the Sun
Devils a one-way ticket to second place
in the conference.
Arizona State is now tied with No. 7
California, Stanford, UCLA and Ore
gon. The Pac-10 didn’t feature any up
sets last Saturday, and this weekend’s
matchups suggests a similar result. Re
gardless, the number of teams contend
ing for second place will be cut in half.
No. 7 California (4-1
overall, 2-1 conference)
at Arizona (1-5,0-3)
Arizona squares off against its
highest-ranked opponent of the sea
son as Cal heads to Tlicson, Ariz.,
fresh off of the Wildcats’ home win
last week over UCLA.
The seemingly challenging Wild
cats’ defense was torn to shreds last
Saturday against Oregon and will
have its paws full this weekend trying
to keep pace with Cal’s explosive of
fense. Cal senior tailback J.J. Arring
PAC-10, page 11B
Roetman: A relaxed
Clemens hits open receivers
Continued from page 8B
“I knew (Clemens) could do it, it
just took time,” Williams said. “He
had to get comfortable, and he’s
real comfortable now. He’s making
great throws.”
Clemens and company will face a
tough test at Stanford Saturday.
While the Cardinal ranks last in the
conference in pass defense (228
yards per game), it has have allowed
the second fewest points per game at
16.2 a contest.
If Oregon is to move to 3-1 in Pac
10 play, the Ducks need to do more
than just move the ball. They need to
put the ball into the end zone.
That is exactly what Oregon will do.
Head coach Mike Bellotti stressed
execution with his players during
practice this week and has the Ducks
playing as a focused team. They
know how important this game is
and are not taking a much-improved
Stanford team lightly.
Also, Clemens has shown more
confidence in his receivers. Timing
patterns with Williams that weren’t
connecting earlier in the season are
running like a well-oiled machine. Day
has proven that if you throw the ball
in his zip code — which at 6-foot-4
and 268 pounds is roughly the size of
Springfield — he will catch it.
The Ducks will capitalize on their
red zone opportunities, while
Williams and Day will each walk
away with a touchdown.
Whitehead will benefit from the
success of the Oregon passing attack
as Stanford is forced to drop eight men
into coverage. The junior tailback will
rush for 100 yards and a score.
Clemens will continue to make
good decisions and stay intercep
tion free for the sixth straight week.
Oh, and 300 yards and three touch
down passes aren’t out of the realm
of possibilities.
The Oregon offense will shine Sat
urday as the Ducks work toward sep
arating themselves as one of the top
teams in the conference.
And no plastic boot can stop that.
jonroetman@dailyemerald. com
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