Olson leads Bruins to win

PASADENA, Calif. – Ben Olson threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his first college start, leading UCLA to a 31-10 victory over Utah in both teams’ opener Saturday.

The 6-foot-5, 227-pound redhead hadn’t started a game since his senior year in high school nearly five years ago – when he was the nation’s No. 1 recruit. He transferred from Brigham Young in January 2005, after redshirting his freshman year and spending two years on a Mormon church mission in Calgary, Alberta.

Last season, Olson played sparingly as the backup to Drew Olson after missing the first three games with a broken left throwing hand.

This Saturday was all his.

Olson completed 25 of 33 passes for 318 yards and no interceptions in a game that began in 96-degree heat at the Rose Bowl. It was the most yardage by a debuting Bruins quarterback since Tommy Maddox had 353 against Michigan in 1990.

Olson was perfect on his first seven passes, hitting seven different receivers, all for first downs.

The Utes had won their last four games against Pac-10 opponents.