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Arizona-UCLA Preview

Oct 27, 2010 - 2:26 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

No. 15 Arizona (6-1) at UCLA (3-4), 3:30 p.m. EDT

For the second straight week, Arizona isn't sure if starting quarterback Nick Foles will be available.

Because of backup Matt Scott's most recent performance, the No. 15 Wildcats probably feel a little more comfortable heading into Saturday's game at UCLA.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops said whether Foles returns against the Bruins will depend on how his right knee holds up during practice this week. The junior sprained that joint when a Washington State player rolled into his leg during a 24-7 win Oct. 16 and he sat out last week's game against Washington.

Stoops said last week Foles' injury wasn't season-ending but is unsure of when he'll return. For now, he's considering him "questionable" for this week's game.

"You want him to be healthy and be able to protect himself and be able to do all the things he did prior to his injury," Stoops said. "That is what you have to see: the mobility to protect himself."

Before facing Washington State, Foles led the Pac-10 in averaging 305.8 yards, and he remains second nationally with a 75.3 completion percentage.

Given those stats, the loss of Foles might have seemed ominous for the Wildcats (6-1, 3-1), but Scott has filled in admirably. In the win over Washington State, he completed 14 of 20 passes for 139 yards and survived being sacked five times.

Scott was even better in last week's 44-14 rout of the Huskies, going 18 of 22 for a career-best 223 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 65 yards on seven attempts.

Scott's play is not altogether surprising as he won the starting job over Foles at the beginning of last season, but was replaced after struggling in the first three games, including a 4-of-14 performance for 50 yards in a loss at Iowa.

"Coming off that Iowa game, everybody was real skeptical about what I could do as a quarterback," Scott said. "I think I proved it a little bit (against Washington)."

If Scott starts again this week, he'll face a UCLA defense that's yielded more than 300 passing yards in two of the past three games. The Bruins, though, have been hurt worse by opposing rushers who have gained a combined 574 yards during their back-to-back defeats.

The Bruins (3-4, 1-3) have also been outscored 95-20 since a three-game win streak, which included victories over ranked Houston and Texas squads.

UCLA is also dealing with its own injury problems at quarterback as starter Kevin Prince is out for the season after undergoing right knee surgery this past Saturday. Richard Brehaut is expected to again take Prince's place for a passing attack that ranks 117th out of 120 FBS teams (104.6 yards per game) and is last in efficiency (86.19).

The Bruins might not improve those numbers much this week against the Pac-10's best defense, which is giving up 13.4 points and 285.1 yards per game.

The Wildcats allowed more than 230 yards rushing and passing in last week's game, but shut out the Huskies in the second half while limiting an opponent to less than 15 points for the fifth time this season.

Arizona has held UCLA under that same mark in the last two of its three consecutive wins in the series. The WIldcats also haven't given up an offensive touchdown in those matchups.

Foles threw for a pair of scores to Juron Criner in last season's 27-13 victory in Tucson, and Nic Grigsby added a touchdown run. Grigsby had a pair of TDs in last week's win and Keola Antolin had another two while compiling a season-high 114 yards.

Antolin registered 77 yards on 16 carries in last season's game against Bruins, while UCLA's Jonathan Franklin had 36 on nine attempts. Franklin enters this game second in the Pac-10 with 748 yards but has been held under 70 each of the past two weeks.

Franklin, though, won't have tackle Sean Sheller as he and leading receiver Ricky Marvray were suspended for this week's game after an undisclosed violation of team rules. It's the second time in as many weeks Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel has suspended two starters.

UCLA leads the series 19-13-2.