Hula Bowl : UCLA’s Price Picks Off 3 Passes as West Wins

UCLA cornerback Dennis Price, who had only three interceptions last season, was hoping for at least one more in his final collegiate game.

Instead, he matched his season total by picking off three passes as the West defeated the East, 20-18, in the Hula Bowl Saturday.

“I guess someone shed some light on me,” Price said after being named the game’s outstanding defensive player.

Price’s Hula Bowl roommate, split end Aaron Cox of Arizona State, was the outstanding offensive player. Cox had 6 receptions for 101 yards.

Wyoming’s Craig Burnett and San Diego State’s Todd Santos each threw touchdown passes for the West.

Burnett connected with Hawaii’s Marco Johnson on an 11-yard touchdown pass play with 51 seconds left in the first half, then passed to Oklahoma State’s Thurman Thomas for a two-point conversion that made it 8-8 at halftime.

Santos, the all-time NCAA passing leader, teamed with USC’s Ken Henry on a nine-yard touchdown pass play to put the West ahead to stay late in the third quarter. The PAT kick failed, making the score 14-11.

Clemson’s David Treadwell had put the East ahead, 11-8, with his third field goal, a 27-yarder.

The East scored first when Jon Carter of Pittsburgh sacked Santos in the end zone for a safety midway through the first quarter.

Field goals of 44 and 36 yards by Treadwell made it 8-0 with 5:56 remaining in the half.

Early in the third quarter, Van Waiters of Indiana recovered Santos’ fumble on the West 39, and eight plays later, Treadwell kicked his record-tying third field goal.

Santos then rallied his club, passing to Johnson for a 12-yard gain on fourth and 7 before connecting with Henry for the go-ahead score.

Icky Woods of Nevada Las Vegas made it 20-10 in the fourth quarter when he scored on a seven-yard run. A PAT pass failed.