Ducks bounce back to bottle up Bruins

EUGENE, Ore. – There were no fancy plays or controversies in Oregon’s victory over UCLA, only workmanlike efficiency.

The No. 18 Ducks, who were humbled at California last weekend, put together a solid 30-20 win over the Bruins on Saturday.

Dennis Dixon threw two touchdown passes and Jonthan Stewart ran for 121 yards for Oregon (5-1, 3-1 Pac-10). Brian Paysinger had four catches for 105 yards and a TD.

“I think what we wanted to establish was our regular game plan that we’ve had for the whole season,” Stewart said.

Going into the game, UCLA (4-2, 2-2) led the Pac-10 and was ranked second nationally in run defense, allowing 50 yards a game. The Ducks ran for 256.

“We usually have stopped the run, and we did not do that today,” UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. “When you get an offense running and passing like that, it makes it a lot harder for your defense to attack.”

The Ducks were coming off a 45-24 loss at California, when their running game – and just about everything else – malfunctioned. It was the Ducks’ first loss of the season and put them in a four-way tie for third in the Pac-10. UCLA, coming off a victory over Arizona, was also in that group.

Patrick Cowan started at quarterback for the Bruins in place of Ben Olson, who injured his knee during last weekend’s victory over Arizona and was expected to be out up to six weeks.

Cowan, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore, completed 16 of 31 passes for 112 yards. He was intercepted once.

“I felt I could have done some things better,” Cowan said. “I knew they had a good D-line, and they got some pressure on us.”

Kahlil Bell had two short TD runs for UCLA.

Oregon was fast and efficient on its first drive, scoring on an 11-yard pass from Dixon to Dante Rosario. The point-after attempt was blocked by UCLA’s Justin Hickman, making it 6-0.

Jeremiah Johnson added a 7-yard touchdown run for the Ducks, before the Bruins made it 13-3 with Justin Medlock’s 35-yard field goal.

Before the end of the first quarter, Paysinger outsprinted Bruins free safety Dennis Keyes and caught Dixon’s 26-yard pass in the end zone to make it 20-3.

“We wanted to make a statement early. Coach said to get after it, get a push and get ‘em down,” Oregon center Enoka Lucas said. “The more we beat them down, the more they gave up.”