Defense, Poli-Dixon redeemed against Golden Bears

Published: Monday, December 14, 1998

Monday, December 14, 1998

CALIFORNIA: Decisive plays destroy Cal's momentum, pave way for UCLA victory

By Rocky Salmon

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Riding into Berkeley after an emotional overtime victory over Oregon a week earlier, UCLA had to rely on trench warfare to squeeze by a hungry Cal team.

Winning 28-16, the Bruins used a receiver who had dropped two crucial passes against Oregon, a halfback who threw for a touchdown, and a defense which had given up 40 points the preceding week.

The Golden Bears jumped out to a quick lead but then for the next UCLA possessions, the game would become the Cade McNown and Brian Poli-Dixon show. For Poli-Dixon, his two touchdown grabs in the first quarter would be sweet revenge for all the critics who lambasted him after the Oregon game.

The second grab was one in which dreams were made. McNown lofted a 35-yard pass that seemed out of the reach of Poli-Dixon, but he made a miraculous adjustment and leaped to grab the ball to give UCLA a 14-7 lead.

And that is when the defense came to life to keep the Golden Bears from upsetting their sister school.

In Westwood, the Cal game will forever be remembered for two huge defensive goalline stands that closed the door on any attempts for a Golden Bear upset.

"We had a good defensive scheme, and the defense picked it up," head coach Bob Toledo said. "The key was to create a new line of scrimmage and our defense created a new line of scrimmage in the backfield."

Just before halftime Cal was driving in for a score when the defense stepped up.

With less than a minute to play and Cal at the two yard line, fullback Joshua White tried to go over the left tackle and was met by freshman linebacker Robert Thomas, who forced a fumble. Larry Atkins was quick to pounce on it.

The next great stand came as Cal moved the ball to the 2-yard line once again. This time for four plays, the Bruins stuffed Cal's attempts to make it into the endzone. Four big plays that secured a UCLA win.

The dagger in Cal's heart would be Jermaine Lewis' halfback toss to a wide open Brad Melsby. Game over. Checkmate.

In the end, Cal turned out to be a showing of how tough UCLA's defense could be when everyone clicks. So, on Oct. 24, the Bruins outlasted the Golden Bears in the trenches.

JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin

Golden Bear players scramble to recover a fumble that UCLA finally recovered at California Memorial Stadium.

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