This Date in College Football Belt History – October 16

The 12^th ranked, 4-1 Washington Huskies of first-year coach Jim Lambright traveled to Pasadena to meet the 22^nd ranked, 3-2 UCLA Bruins of coach Terry Donahue.  UCLA’s All-American WR J.J. Stokes caught four touchdown passes as the Bruins rallied from a 15-0 1^st quarter deficit to record a 39-25 upset win & claim their 9^th Belt reign.  Washington took a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter when All-Pac 10 RB Napoleon Kaufman capped a 51-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.  The Huskies took a 9-0 lead after recording a safety when UCLA’s QB Wayne Cook fumbled a snap & when Kaufman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, the lead was 15-0.  On the last play of the 1^st quarter, Cook hit Stokes for a quick gain but the receiver was able to break two tackles & when two of the Huskies ran into each other, Stokes had a 95-yard touchdown reception.  Washington got a 43-yard field goal from PK Travis Hanson giving the Huskies an 18-7 lead.  Late in the quarter, Stokes scored his second touchdown on a diving 18-yard reception & the teams went to halftime with the score Washington 18 UCLA 14.  In the 3^rd quarter the Bruins drove 99 yards in 9 plays with Cook again finding Stokes open on the 22-yard touchdown pass giving UCLA 21-18 advantage.  Early in the 4^th quarter, the Bruins’ All-American PK Bjorn Merten hit a 24-yard field goal as UCLA pushed the lead to 24-18.  With 8:42 left, Stokes made his fourth touchdown reception, this one coming on a 6-yard pass, & when Cook ran in for the 2-point conversion, the Bruins had a 32-18 lead.  Washington’s DE Jamal Fontaine recovered another fumble by Cook & the Huskies had the ball at the UCLA 12-yard line.  Four plays later, Washington’s QB Eric Bjornson fired to WR D.J. McCarthy for an 8-yard touchdown pass making the score UCLA 32 Washington 25.  The Huskies had a final chance to tie the game with 0:56 to play but Bjornson’s pass was intercepted by Bruins’ CB Teddy Lawrence who returned it 36 yards for the final points.  Cook finished with 294 yards passing with 4 touchdowns as well as 2 interceptions & Stokes added 10 catches for 190 yards to his 4 touchdown receptions.  Washington’s QB Damon Huard threw for 161 yards with an interception before being replaced by Bjornson.  The Huskies finished the season 7-4 while the Bruins finished 8-4, Pac 10 Co-Champs, ranked 18^th nationally.  Washington would play for The Belt again in 1997.

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