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SALT LAKE CITY - When the Utes took the field Saturday in Tucson, they donned white jerseys with black pants. Perhaps it's only fitting that Utah sported the new look, as John White IV rushed for video game-esque numbers and Conroy Black had an interception in the end zone to help seal the 34-21 win for the Utes.
Series SnapshotUtah lost the first eight games to UCLA before upsetting the No. 11-ranked Bruins in 2007. UCLA leads the series 8-1 overall and 3-1 in Salt Lake City, where the Bruins won in 1960, 1962 and 1974.Game 9 Notes
- Utah (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12) vs. UCLA (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12)
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011
- Time: 4:30 p.m. MST
- Site: Rice-Eccles Stadium - Salt Lake City, Utah
- TV: KJZZ, Prime Ticket
- Radio: ESPN700, SIRIUS 139/XM 196
- Series Record: UCLA leads 8-1
- Last Meeting: 2007 (Utah 44-6)
- Kickoff Weather: Mostly cloudy, temps in the upper 40s
The Utes improved to 5-0 when "Juan Blanco el Cuatro" rushes for more than 100 yards, and with his 109 yards he became just the 11th Ute to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.
Utah's defense hounded the Wildcats' offense, intercepting Nick Foles twice and blocking two punts in Utah's first road conference win.
Next up for the Utes is a surprisingly upstart UCLA Bruins team who has won three out of its last four games, including knocking off Arizona State and Cal, both of which Utah lost to.
Here is an inside look at UCLA and some of the key players to watch on Saturday.
Enrollment: 38,476
Established: 1918
Conference: Pac-12 South
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Mascot: Joe & Josephine Bruin
Nickname: Bruins
Colors: True Blue and Gold
Season to date
Starting the 2011 season with a 2-3 record, not many believed that the Bruins had a shot to win the Pac-12 South division title. However, things have turned around in Los Angeles, and with a win over Arizona State last weekend the Bruins are in the driver's seat, fully in control of their own destiny. Win out, and they clinch a spot in the Pac-12 championship game to play either Oregon or Stanford, the latter of which beat UCLA 45-19 earlier this season.
Record: (5-4, 4-2 Pac-12)
Against current Top 25: 0-3; L at Houston, L vs. Texas, loss at Stanford
Key wins: Cal, Arizona State
Key loses: at Arizona
Coaching Staff
One of the most intriguing storylines surrounding this Pac-12 clash is Norm Chow, who served as UCLA's offensive coordinator from 2008-10. Chow is now in the same position for the Utes.
"There's no advantage to either team with Norm having insight and knowledge into their program, but them also knowing Norm," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "I don't think that will play into it at all. I think they've changed both coordinators, so I don't see that as an advantage one way or another."
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel, who quarterbacked the Bruins to victory in the 1984 Rose Bowl, owns a record of 86-56 as a collegiate head coach. He coached three seasons in the NFL, and has been the head coach at three Pac-12 programs - Colorado, Washington and now UCLA.
Offense
The Bruins run a pistol offense, orchestrated by quarterback Kevin Prince. UCLA averages 190.9 yards per game on the ground, but have averaged 257 yards in its last two games against Cal and Arizona State.
Prince has rushed for 296 yards this season, which is the most by a Bruin quarterback since Cade McNown totaled 311 in the 1995 season.
When Prince isn't keeping the ball on the option, running backs Derrick Coleman and Johnathan Franklin split the carries out of the backfield. Coleman has five touchdowns in the last two games and 11 on the season, enough to put him ninth in the Pac-12 in scoring. Franklin ranks 10th in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (67.3).
"Those guys (Coleman and Franklin) play hard and play well, and we're going to continue to ride them as long as we can," UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said.
If Utah decides to stack the box against the run, wide receivers Nelson Rosario and Taylor Embree will be called upon to make some plays on the outside in one-on-one coverage. Both players are climbing the school record books in receptions and receiving yards.
Defense
UCLA ranks near the bottom of the Pac-12 in scoring defense (31.4 points) and total defense (427.9 yards). And what should make Ute fans excited, is that the Bruins rank 11th in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game, surrendering 186 yards per game on the ground.
And while UCLA may be better against the pass, they rank 109th in the nation in sacks. While the game plan for the Bruins will change as they face the Utes, they haven't been able to pressure quarterbacks very well. UCLA's defensive line has only 8 sacks on the season.
Cornerback Aaron Hester leads the team in pass breakups, and he could be called on a lot to play one-on-one coverage on Reggie Dunn and DeVonte Christopher while the Bruins stack the box against the run. Redshirt freshman Tevin McDonald has stepped in to the starting safety position and has performed quite well for the Bruins. McDonald has a team high three interceptions, enough for fifth in the Pac-12.
Special Teams
Tyler Gonzalez, a former manager for the men's soccer team, is handling the kicking duties because of injuries. Gonzalez has made 3 of 4 field goals, with a long of 43 yards last week against Arizona State.
Punter Jeff Locke is averaging 44.3 yards per punt.
Email: rojackson@ksl.com Twitter: @rojackKSL
