UCLA’s Richard Brehaut reluctant to take credit in win over Cougars

Richard Brehaut’s first start at quarterback was a victory, though he claimed not to have done much.

Brehaut filled in for Kevin Prince (knee injury) and turned in a bubbly and enthusiastic performance after the game, pointing fingers at others.

“I had so many good players surrounding me, as long as I’m making the calls and running the right plays, good things were going to happen,� Brehaut said.

Still, Brehaut did plenty.

Brehaut was named the starter Friday, Coach Rick Neuheisel said, after it was clear Prince’s knee had not improved enough. Brehaut went out and completed five of six passes for 48 yards on the Bruins’ first possession, which ended in a three-yard touchdown run by Johnathan Franklin.

Brehaut was 12 for 23 for 128 yards for the game. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but he didn’t have a pass intercepted. Brehaut had a one-yard touchdown run.

“I just told him to be in control and don’t make silly mistakes and take care of the football,� offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “He missed a couple throws early and we talked on the phone. It wasn’t going to bother him and we moved on to the next play.�

Prince, meanwhile, was certain he would be ready for next week’s game. As to whether he could have played Saturday, Prince said, “Adrenalin always helps. What matters is Richard did a great job and the team won.�

Upon further review: the review

Two perspectives on the play that finally turned the game UCLA’s way.

Washington State’s Jeff Tuel scored on a one-yard run. The Cougars missed the extra point, leaving them with a 34-28 lead. But game officials were trying to stop the play for a review.

“The official came over and said they got buzzed right before the kick, which they missed,� Neuheisel said. “And I’m saying, ‘now if they score again, they’ll get another chance at the extra point; was this good news or bad news?’�

Meanwhile, upstairs, defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough knew it was not a touchdown.

“I was screaming, ‘challenge it, challenge it, challenge it,’� Bullough said. “Then I remembered I wasn’t in the NFL.�

The run down

Franklin’s 216 yards rushing made him the first UCLA player to go over 100 yards in three consecutive games since Maurice Jones Drew in 2004.

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound Franklin carried the ball a career-high 30 times just two weeks after Neuheisel said that he wasn’t the type of back who could carry the ball 25-30 times.

Quick hits

UCLA wide receiver Nelson Rosario left the game with a left ankle injury, but Neuheisel said that X-rays were negative.... Safety Dalton Hilliard suffered a sprained right shoulder.... Kai Forbath kicked field goals of 33 and 20 yards, giving him 80 for his career, five behind John Lee’s school record.... UCLA ended a six-game October losing streak.

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