#Fresno state hands UCLA third straight loss

There was a lot of optimism in Westwood when the UCLA Bruins upset then #18 Tennessee in OT to open the season.  Unfortunately, that result may have demonstrated more about UT’s overrated preseason ranking than anything else.  The Bruins have been in freefall ever since, with the latest setback a 36-31 home loss to #25 Fresno State.  The loss is UCLA’s third in a row, dropping their season record to 1-3.

If there is a bright spot to come from this loss, they at least scored more than two TDs this week.  The Bruins followed their victory over Tennessee with a loss of historical proportions, being destroyed 59-0 against BYU in Provo.  Things didn’t get much better the following game, when Arizona routed the Bruins 31-10 at home.  They were competitive throughout the game this week, trailing by a single point at the half.

Though that’s a minor consolation against a team that they’ve historically dominated—Fresno State won for only the 2nd time in history against UCLA and for the first time at the Rose Bowl.  They also had at least half of the 72,000+ fans in attendance at what is nominally the Bruins’ home field.  The Bulldogs victory snapped a 5 game losing streak against the PAC 10.

Fresno’s biggest weapon was the solid play of QB Tom Brandstater, who threw for 236 yards and 3 TD passes with only one interception.  The Bulldogs enjoyed a very balanced offensive attack, adding 207 yards on the ground.  The bulk of the rushing attack came courtesy of Ryan Mathews, who rushed 21 times for 166 yards and a TD.  Mathews also caught a 21 yard TD pass from Brandstater to further underscore the versatility of the Fresno State offense.

Fresno State—who is 3-0 on the road this year—returns home for a pair of games against Hawaii and Idaho.  They’ll be back on the road after that, with games at Utah State and Louisiana Tech.  UCLA will get something of a temporary respite next week when they entertain lowly Washington State at the Rose Bowl.  Things will get tough again after that, with a game in Eugene, OR against a solid Oregon Ducks team.