Chane Moline

Tailback Raymond Carter hobbled around on crutches at practice Thursday, his season over. The rest of UCLA's tailbacks went back to work. Carter, a promising freshman, is out for the season because of a knee injury, leaving the Bruins' backfield -- which lost Derrick Williams to concussions in the spring -- down another man. What remains are the top rungs on the depth chart, Chris Markey and Kahlil Bell, but the ranks thin out quickly.

UCLA lost more Saturday than football game it was capable of winning. Tailback Kahlil Bell, who was injured in the first quarter of a 27-7 loss to Washington State, is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Coach Karl Dorrell said Monday. Surgery will be scheduled once the swelling goes down. Also, wide receiver Brandon Breazell has bruised ribs and his chances of playing against Arizona on Saturday are "50-50," Dorrell said.

* Coach: Karl Dorrell, fourth season, 22-15. * Last season: 10-2 overall, 6-2 in Pacific 10 Conference, third place. * Key losses: QB Drew Olson, TE Marcedes Lewis, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, SS Jarrad Page, LB Spencer Havner, LB Justin London. * Returning starters: OG Shannon Tevaga, FB Michael Pitre, OT Noah Sutherland, OT Brian Abraham, C Robert Chai, DE Justin Hickman, DT Chase Moline, LB John Hale, CB Trey Brown, FS Dennis Keyes, DT Brigham Harwell, K Justin Medlock, P Aaron Perez.

Freshman tailback Raymond Carter, one of UCLA's top recruits, is lost for the season. He will need surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Carter was injured at the end of drills Tuesday and underwent an MRI examination Wednesday. He watched practice while leaning on crutches. The Bruins were already thin at tailback. Starter Chris Markey returns, but Kahlil Bell and Chane Moline -- who combined for 93 carries last season -- are the only experienced backups.

Quarterback Osaar Rasshan dropped back to pass, then took off. That was the common thread throughout UCLA's game against Arizona State last Saturday. Sometimes Rasshan scrambled for yardage. Sometimes he threw on the run. But it seemed clear that his abilities were a little crisper when he was on the move. "Right now, I'm a little more comfortable throwing outside the pocket," Rasshan said Wednesday. "Any offense in football has ways to get a quarterback outside the pocket."

Bobby Bowden said Monday evening at his home that he has not made a decision about his coaching future at Florida State and plans to meet with university officials again today. Bowden told the Associated Press that he is still sifting through "options presented to him." Bowden met with Florida State President T.K. Wetherell and Athletic Director Randy Spetman for an hour Monday morning. The Tallahassee Democrat and ESPN.com are reporting Bowden is expected to announce his retirement.

Shea Buckner and Mark Milovic scored Villa Park's first two goals and carried the bulk of the offensive load Saturday as the Spartans defeated Carlsbad, 14-10, to win the championship of their own water polo tournament for the first time since 2000. Buckner, a senior utility player who earned most-valuable-player honors in the 32-team event, finished with five goals. Milovic, a senior two-meter guard, wound up with three. The Spartans (13-0), ranked No.

The thin powder blue line had more moments of concern Tuesday. Defensive end Korey Bosworth was on the sideline, testing a left ankle injury. Defensive tackle Brigham Harwell was having an injured left arm examined. Guard Scott Glicksberg was in and out of drills because of a sore shoulder. The hopes UCLA harbor for success this season required one absolute ingredient: health. The Bruins have already lost tight end Logan Paulsen to a broken foot. Wide receiver Marcus Everett is still rehabilitating a dislocated toe. And tailback Kahlil Bell is looking more and more doubtful for this week because of a high ankle sprain.

These are freakish times in high school football, and it's not even Halloween yet. Most scary is the expanding list of outstanding running backs, with 200-, 300- and 400-yard rushing performances becoming commonplace. Just look at what sophomore Ryan Bass of Corona Centennial is accomplishing. He gets promoted from the junior varsity and in his varsity debut rushes for 401 yards against Rancho Cucamonga. In three games, he has 888 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Kevin Craft is looking more and more like UCLA's next starting quarterback. While it is not a done deal, the indications point to Craft, who has directed the first-team offense almost exclusively the last three practices. Craft and Chris Forcier have been competing for the job since Ben Olson re-broke a bone in his right foot. While all the returns (and interceptions) have yet to be counted, the campaign seems tilted in Craft's direction.