Stanford hands UCLA its first defeat, 24-16

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Stanford improved to 3-0 in Pacific 10 Conference play by handing UCLA its first defeat of the season, 24-16, on Saturday afternoon at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif.

The Bruins (3-1), playing their first Pac-10 game of the season, had trouble slowing down Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart, who finished with 134 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 29 carries.

Quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford (4-1) was efficient in completing 14 of 20 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Ryan Whalen caught six passes for 118 yards.

Stanford, which broke a five-game losing streak to the Bruins, is off to its best five-game start since 1995, when the Cardinal opened 4-0-1 under Tyrone Willingham. Coach Jim Harbaugh is trying to guide Stanford to its first bowl game in seven years.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft was 22-of-34 passing for 204 yards. He, too, had no touchdown passes and did not have a pass intercepted. Johnathan Franklin gained 59 yards rushing in 15 carries.

The Bruins trailed, 24-6, in the third quarter after Gerhart scored on his third touchdown run of the game and Nate Whitaker kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:09 left.

They drew to within 24-13 after Franklin scored their only touchdown on a one-yard run with 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, but had another drive stall with just over four minutes to play, and Kai Forbarth kicked his third field goal of the game to make it 24-16.

UCLA’s luck has run out. Another fourth-down play comes up empty and stops its final drive at the Bruins’ 42-yard line. Stanford just has to avoid a turnover as it runs out the clock.

Kevin Craft, after completing a fourth-down pass to keep the drive alive, throws four incomplete passes in a row to end the threat.

The Bruins continue to make a game of it, forcing Stanford to punt with 3:15 left. Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck misfired on a third-down play when he had an open receiver.

UCLA keeps alive its hopes with a fourth-down conversion as Kevin Craft his receiver Taylor Embree on a quick slant for a 12-yard gain.

Kai Forbath’s third field goal of the game -- this one from 35 yards -- pulled UCLA to within 24-16 of Stanford with 4:16 left in the game.

The Bruins took 4:04 to drive 45 yards in 101 plays as Kevin Craft connected on a few short pass plays and a 16-yard gain to tight end Ryan Moya. But the drive stalled and UCLA was forced to kick attempt another field goal.

The drive was set up by a 21-yard punt by David Green that was partially blocked by the Bruins.

UCLA is scrapping to stay in this game. They go 73 yards in 10 plays for a score.

Kevin Craft completed three of three passes for 34 yards. Freshman Damien Thigpen came off the bench and had 19 yards on two carries. Johnathan Franklin finished it off with a one-yard touchdown run with 11:08 left in the game.

Gerhart has 108 yards rushing. He is the first player to go over 100 yards against the Bruins this season. UCLA came in ranked ninth nationally against the run, allowing 74 yards a game.