• Recap
• Bleachers

Defense forces seven turnovers as Notre Dame snaps skid

Oct 7, 2007 - 4:13 AM PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Thanks to its defense, Notre Dame can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Fighting Irish snapped a seven-game losing streak by forcing seven turnovers, scoring a defensive touchdown and setting up the offense for another score in upsetting UCLA, 20-6, Saturday night.

Linebacker Maurice Crum had four takeaways, including a fumble that he returned for a TD and Brandon Walker kicked two field goals for Notre Dame (1-5), which avoided tying a school record for losses.

The last time the Irish lost eight straight was in 1960, when they won their opener, then didn't win again until the final game of the season. This victory was the first for Notre Dame since November 18, 2006 and helped the Irish improve to 4-0 all-time vs. UCLA.

It was the second disappointing loss for the Bruins (4-2) in 2007. UCLA started the season 2-0 before being crushed, 44-6, at Utah.

Notre Dame won this game in the third quarter.

The Fighting Irish trailed by three before a field goal by Walker from 48 yards out bounced over the cross bar to knot the game at 6-6 with 6:24 remaining. Later in the period the defense gave the ball back to Clausen in prime scoring position.

Safety David Bruton intercepted McLeod Bethel-Thompson at the UCLA 21 and returned it 17 yards to put the Irish inside the Bruins 5-yard line. Three plays later Clausen scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1 to make the score 13-6 with 1:53 remaining in the third. It was just the second lead in a game for Notre Dame this season.

Crum then took over. On UCLA's next possesion, the senior linebacker blitzed UCLA backup quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, knocking the ball out of his hands. He e scooped it up and scampered 33 yards to make it 20-6 with 1:03 left in the quarter.

Crum had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 17-of-27 passes for 84 yards and ran for a critical touchdown.

UCLA had taken a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Bruins starting signal caller Ben Olson led the offense on a 13-play, 42-yard drive which led to Kai Forbath's 29-yard field goal.

However, the junior quarterback was knocked out of the game with a knee injury when he was sacked and fumbled inside his own 5 later in the period. The turnover led to a game-tying 26-yard field goal by Walker with 23 seconds left in the quarter.

UCLA took the lead at halftime when Forbath booted a 49-yard kick with 32 seconds left in the half.

Olson was 4-of-10 for 54 yards and Bethel-Thompson was 12-of-28 for 139 yards and three interceptions.