Bulldogs turn back Pac-10 Bruins

PASADENA, Calif. — Tom Brandstater and his Fresno State teammates created a lasting memory.

"In 20 years, we will be able to remember that we beat UCLA at their house. We beat the mighty Bruins. That is fun," he said.

Brandstater threw three touchdown passes and Ryan Mathews ran for 166 yards as the No. 25 Bulldogs beat UCLA 36-31 on Saturday.

Mathews scored once on a 49-yard dash and again on a 25-yard reception.

"I was recruited by UCLA — and I'm glad they passed," he said. "We had a chip on our shoulder all day long and played like it."

The scrappy Bulldogs (3-1) of the Western Athletic Conference aren't awed by any team, but the school has been frustrated that more big-time football schools don't schedule them.

"It looks like it will be hard for us to schedule Pac-10 schools in the future," Mathews said after the win over the Bruins (1-3).

Fresno State coach Pat Hill, who pointed to the throng of red-clad fans in the visiting team's section of the stands, said, "It was a great effort by our team and a great effort by our fans. I'd say that at least half the stadium was wearing red, so hats off to our fans."

The Bulldogs fans seemed to make up at least a third of the Rose Bowl crowd of 73,963.

"I don't understand why more schools don't want to play us; we have great drawing power," Hill said.

Fresno State now has 14 victories against BCS-conference opponents this decade, tied with Utah for the most by teams from the non-automatic qualifying conferences.

Played in 90-degree heat, it was an entertaining game, with a string of big plays, back-and-forth scoring, and some late drama.

In a game marked by rapid shifts in momentum, the Bulldogs took final control after the Bruins' Derrick Coleman fumbled at the Fresno State 10 and Wilson Ramos recovered with 8:55 remaining.

With Mathews grinding out yards from there, including a 7-yard gain on fourth-and-1 at the UCLA 26 with 2:53 remaining, the Bulldogs ran out the clock with a 17-play drive that reached the UCLA 4 as time expired.

Brandstater was 21-of-30 for 236 yards, including touchdowns of 28 yards to Chastin West, 22 to Mathews, and 4 to Bear Pascoe, the final two as the Bulldogs opened a 36-22 lead in the third quarter.