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Fresno State looks to improve defense against UCLA

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:08 AM (24) Fresno State (2-1) at UCLA (1-2), 3:30 pm EDT

PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Fresno State has endured nail-biting finishes in each of its last two games. The 24th-ranked Bulldogs hope for an easier time Saturday when they visit UCLA.

After dropping a 13-10 decision to Wisconsin and consequently falling from the USA Today coaches' poll two weeks ago, the Bulldogs (2-1) rebounded to win, 55-54, at Toledo in double-overtime last Saturday.

Fresno State squandered a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and scrambled to force a second overtime when Tom Brandstater tossed a 7-yard touchdown to Isaac Kinter. After Brandstater made it 55-48 with his 1-yard TD run in the second overtime, Toledo responded on Aaron Opelt's 3-yard scoring strike to John Allen.

But the Bulldogs escaped with the win when Nico Herron batted down Opelt's pass on the ensuing two-point conversion.

"In my 143 games as head coach, I've never been more proud of a team or a group of players as I am tonight," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "That was a big-time win."

However, it was anything but a big-time defensive effort from the Bulldogs, who allowed the Rockets to rack up 598 yards of total offense - including 297 on the ground.

Fresno State hopes for a better defensive performance Saturday against a Bruins team that has managed a total of just 10 points over its last two games - both losses.

After being drubbed, 59-0, by Brigham Young in its worst loss since 1929, UCLA (1-2) dropped a 31-10 decision to Arizona in its Pac-10 Conference opener last week.

Kevin Craft completed 15-of-31 passes for just 81 yards and was sacked three times as the Bruins finished with 196 yards of total offense. Since spearheading an overtime win against Tennessee in the season opener, Craft has completed just 54 percent (38-for-70) of his attempts.

Conversely, Brandstater has been extremely efficient this season, completing 61 percent (48-of-79) of his passes for five TDs and only one interception.

Saturday's contest marks the third of seven road games this season for the Bulldogs, who will travel more than 18,000 miles this year - the most for any school on the mainland.

Fresno State is 1-6 all-time against UCLA and has not visited the Rose Bowl since 2000, when the Bruins posted a 24-21 victory. The Bulldogs' only win in this series came in the 2003 Silicon Valley Bowl, when they recorded a 17-9 triumph.