Donald Butler isn't sorry about big hit on UCLA quarterback

Donald Butler was sorry UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince was hurt Saturday.

But he wasn't sorry for the way it happened — a hard hit from Butler on Prince as the UCLA quarterback tried to fight for yardage late in the second quarter here Saturday in a game the Bruins ultimately won 24-23.

Butler was flagged for a personal foul and Prince left the game with a concussion and didn't return. Butler said that Prince didn't slide, as quarterbacks often do, but attempted to gain more yards (he picked up eight on the play).

"I was just trying to make a play on the ball," Butler said. "Nothing was intentional from my standpoint. It looked like he didn't slide and I thought he was trying to run me over. As a defensive player, you are taught to make the tackle, so that's what I did."

The crowd booed loudly, particularly after a replay was shown.

"Hopefully, he is OK," Butler said. "But definitely, whenever you can take a shot at the quarterback, you are going to take it, and that's what I did."

Washington coach Steve Sarkisian also defended Butler.

"I'm all for protecting quarterbacks and all that, but the kid wasn't sliding," Sarkisian said. " The guy's coming in low, but he's not sliding or diving, so we have to tackle him."

And UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel also indicated he didn't think Butler really did much wrong.

"It was a tough play," he said. "The NCAA is trying to crack down on helmet-to-helmet contact. But when you are going full speed, it's a tough deal. ... Those are bang-bang calls and you can't get mad at anybody. I don't think there is any need for discipline. Kevin made a great decision to run on that play but we'll have to work on that slide."

Catch raises questions

Kevin Craft's lone TD pass came with a tinge of controversy as he threw a 29-yarder to Terrence Austin in the third quarter that Austin initially juggled as he dived to the ground, then caught after rolling into the end zone.

The play cut UW's lead to 23-21 early in the third quarter.

"The ref made the call," said UW safety Nate Williams who was close to the play. "Whatever I say won't matter, so I guess it was a touchdown."

Sarkisian said he thought the play would be reviewed, so he didn't call for a time out to challenge it. But if the play was reviewed, it happened quickly and the Bruins lined up and kicked the PAT before the Huskies could really protest.

"The rule is they're supposed to review every play if it's close at all," Sarkisian said. "I knew we needed all three timeouts. This was not a game we could afford to burn it. I thought the official had a great view that was standing right there over the ball. The play didn't get involved. I don't know, I still haven't seen the ball. I'm not sure if he caught it or not."

Polk shines

UW redshirt freshman running back Chris Polk had his third 100-yard game of the season, getting 132 yards on just 15 carries.

"Chris had a great effort," Sarkisian said.

Polk was one of those who wondered why he didn't get more carries.

"I was surprised," he said. "But then again, it's not my place to say whether we should pass the ball or run the ball. I just go out there and do whatever the coach tells me to do."

One Polk carry came out of the "Wildcat" formation, with the ball snapped directly to Polk. It was a new look the Huskies unveiled this week and Polk said he thinks it could be used more in the future.

"I hope we look more into it," Polk said.

And despite another 100-yard game, Polk was left in disappointment like the rest of his teammates after the Huskies lost the game.

Polk showed his frustration on the game's deciding play when he tackled UCLA safety Rahim Moore after Moore made an interception of a Jake Locker. Polk grabbed Moore and slammed him to the ground, saying he was hoping he could knock the ball out.

"My frustration, plus I didn't like the guy," Polk said. "Hoping I could have gotten the ball out."

UW shakes up O-line

The Huskies began the game with a new-look offensive line as redshirt freshman Drew Schaefer started at left tackle in place of Ben Ossai and senior Morgan Rosborough at right guard ahead of Senio Kelemete.

Sarkisian said later Ossai and Kelemete were benched for a violation of team rules — apparently being late to a meeting.

Both players entered the game later in the first quarter. But Schaefer continued to rotate with Ossai and played most of the second half, getting the most significant playing time of his career.

"He's a young guy that has been earning it," Sarkisian said of Schaefer, a graduate of Eastlake High School in Sammamish. "He's practicing really well and done a nice job for us as we've kept moving forward and he deserved the opportunity you can get stuck with just playing the same five guys over and over and over again but if a guy is playing well want to give him the opportunity to play."

Wells back on field

There were also a couple of defensive shake-ups, notably senior Jason Wells getting the start at free safety. It was his first action of any kind since suffering a knee injury against USC on Sept. 29, 2007. He then suffered an Achilles injury in March, aggravating it during fall camp.

But he went almost the entire way against the Bruins and had an interception six tackles.

"He kind of got into the flow of the game and did some nice things," Sarkisian said. "He had a great hit on the sideline on the tight end and continued to make nice plays. I was encouraged by it."

Wells left the game briefly with cramps and plantar fasciitis but said he was fine.

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to play again after injuring my Achilles in March," he said. "Just to get this opportunity again is great."

Neuheisel marshals the troops

After getting the team's first Pac-10 win of the season, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel grabbed a microphone and spoke to the team's fans.

"To those of you who have jumped off the wagon, I understand," he said. "I'm just asking you to get back on."

He then said that "good things are going to start to happen" and then led everyone in the UCLA fight song.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.