Last minute catch keeps Bruins afloat

Published: Monday, December 14, 1998

Monday, December 14, 1998

OSU: McNown finds Melsby for winning touchdown after another roller coaster game

By Rocky Salmon

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

After Oregon State took UCLA to the brink on Nov. 7, head coach Mike Riley could only admit, "I bet this was a fun game to watch."

With both offenses exploding and the defenses disappearing, UCLA won with a 21-yard bomb to Brad Melsby, 41-34.

But this wasn't a game about high flying quarterbacks and stiff arming running backs, rather it foreshadowed the defensive play that appeared at the Miami game a month later.

The first quarter started innocuously enough as neither team scored. But then the second quarter rolled around, and UCLA jumped out to a 17-10 lead going into the half.

Oregon State running back Jason Dandridge was able to put up a 38-yard touchdown run during the second quarter to keep the Beavers within striking distance.

The scamper by Dandridge would be a sign of things to come in the second half as he took over the game, finishing off with 130 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns.

UCLA linebackers and defensive backs had a hard time holding onto the powerful back as he burst through for long runs time and time again, a la Edgerrin James in the Miami game.

With the run working so well, Beaver quarterback Jonathan Smith would finish with 323 yards passing as the cornerbacks were isolated.

Head coach Bob Toledo was so infuriated by the poor defense that he ripped into his players and even defensive coordinator Nick Allioti at the press conference on the following Monday.

"We need to get back to the basics," Toledo said.

The basics, which include crisp tackling, good coverage and pressure on the quarterback, were all non-existent in the Miami game.

But unlike the Miami game, Cade McNown would be able to pull magic out of his hat once again, hitting a streaking Brad Melsby with 21 seconds left to go for the win.

"We weren't going for a small chunk," Toledo said.

"We were going for it all. We had a three-level pass going ... and Melsby just ran past the guy.

"I think the corner bit on the 20-yard route to Farmer and Melsby made a great play, and McNown did a good job of seeing him."

And as Ohio State lost to Michigan State on the same day, the win edged UCLA one game closer to a shot at the national championship.The Associated Press

Oregon State defender Andrae Holland breaks up a pass intended for UCLA receiver Danny Farmer (87).

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