There’s been no shortage of big plays so far at the Rose Bowl, as UCLA trails California 35-20 at the half.
With game time temperatures reaching triple digits, both offenses have been equally hot. Cal has racked up 377 yards of total offense, while UCLA has 286.

For the third straight week, the Bruins have had trouble stopping the run. Tailback Jahvid Best, Cal’s All-America candidate, has burned UCLA for 102 yards on just 11 carries. The bulk of that came on Best’s electrifying 93-yard touchdown scamper midway through the second quarter. The Bruins have not been able to contain sophomore Shane Vereen either. Vareen has 88 yards rushing on eight attempts.

Redshirt freshman Johnathan Franklin leads the Bruins with 96 yards on the ground. Franklin has scored two touchdowns, the second coming on a long 74-yard dash on the near sideline.

The Golden Bears (3-2, 0-2 Pac-10) struck gold on their first series, driving the ball 80 yards on seven plays for the early lead. Vereen, the more than capable compliment to Best, capped the drive with a 42-yard scamper down the far sideline.

Cal extended its lead to 14-0 by capitalizing on redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince’s fumble midway through the first quarter. Cal quarterback Kevin Riley connected with Marvin Jones for a 43-yard touchdown pass.

Franklin responded with his first touchdown, a seven-yard score to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Riley continued the back-and-forth exchange, hooking up with Best, who beat redshirt senior linebacker Kyle Bosworth on the edge, for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Then came Franklin’s second touchdown, this one for 74 yards on the first play of the Bruins' (3-2, 0-2) drive.

Best countered with his 93-yard touchdown run before UCLA place kicker Kai Forbath kicked a 24-yard field goal.

Riley, who is 8-of-13 for 165 yards and three touchdowns, went to Jones again on the Golden Bears’ final drive for yet another score.

Forbath nailed a 39-yard field goal as time expired to make it 35-20.