Bruins can’t catch Utes on last leg
UTAH 30 NO. 8 UCLA 28 Utah kicks a field goal with 34 seconds to play and Fairbairn misses at the finish for UCLA’S first loss.
Finally, UCLA can be talked about in the same category as Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas A & M.
It’s a conversation the Bruins would rather not be a part of this morning. Allwere top- 10 teams that lost thisweek. An elite place in the college football world seemed to be laid at the Bruins’ feet Saturday. Top- ranked teams were dropping left and right, putting No. 8 UCLA in a position to make a significant jumpin the polls.
Instead, the Bruins joined the fallen, when Utah pulled off a
30- 28 victory in the Rose Bowl that will leave people scratching their heads looking at the Pac- 12 standings. Unranked Arizona is the only undefeated team in the conference.
After trailing most of the game, UCLA tried to salvage the situation. Quarterback Brett Hundley tossed two long touchdown passes in fourth quarter for a 28- 27 lead. All that did was make the drive home more gutwrenching for UCLA fans.
Utah ( 4- 1 overall, 1- 1 in Pac- 12) worked four minutes off the clock, mostly through the running of Devontae Booker. Andy Phillips chipped home a 29- yard field goal with 34 seconds left.
The Utes had to sweat out two long f ield goal attempts by Ka’imi Fairbairn, one from 55 yards and the other from 50, after a penalty for running into the kicker.
When the second kick sailed wide right, the Bruins were left to ponder what might have been. They were added to the day’s casuality list. It was a volatile day around the top 10, with No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 6 Texas A& M losing. Oregon, ranked second, lost to Arizona on Thursday.
The Bruins ( 4- 1, 1- 1) could have assumed front- runner status. Instead, they were left to sort out issues before playing Oregon next Saturday.
“We all bear the responsibility for this, every single coach, every single player,” UCLA Coach Jim Mora said. “We all could have done a better job.”
Playing Utah is like a trip to the dentist, but not for that regular teeth cleaning. The Utes make you work. UCLA knew that going in, having struggled with Utah since the Utes joined the Pac- 12 for the 2011 season.
The Bruins have lost once and survived for sevenpoint victories twice in three games against Utah.
The Utes came into this game — get to Hundley. The Bruins had success on the ground. Paul Perkins had 99 yards rushing and Jordon James 50.
The Utes were hardly concerned with UCLA running backs. They focused on making Hundley’s evening chaotic.
Hundley threw for 269 yards. He tossed a 93- yard touchdown pass to Devin Fuller and a 40- yard touchdown pass to Eldridge Massington, giving UCLA a 28- 27 lead with five minutes left.
But Hundley was also sacked 10 times — three coming on a three- and- out possession in the fourth quarter.
Hundley also had a pass intercepted inside the fiveyard line, only to have it nullified by a roughing- thepasser penalty. Devin Lucien made an acrobatic catch for what was called an 18- yard touchdown, only to have it overturned on review, with the ball being placed on the one. Eddie Vanderdoes, usually a defensive lineman, barreled in on the next play to cut Utah’s lead to 17- 14.
UCLA f inished with 406 total yards but never showed offensive consistency.
Utah, meanwhile, chewed up real estate. Booker f inished with 156 yards rushing, as the Utes had 242 of their 342 yards on the ground.
The Bruins looked anything but a title contender through the f irst half. Utah was more physical and more opportunistic and led, 17- 7, at the half after Phillips kicked a 49- yard field goal with two seconds left.
The Utes went threeand- out on their first four series, yet were leading, 7- 0. The defense had a lot to do with it, sacking Hundley five times in the first half.
Hundley f lipped a screen pass to Perkins but failed to see defensive back Tevin Carter lurking. Carter picked off the pass and raced 27 yards for a touchdown, giving the Utes the lead.
The Utes changed quarterbacks, which put some life into the offense. Kendal Thompson, who replaced Travis Wilson, completed all seven of his passes in the f irst half. He found Dres Anderson f lying past cornerback Fabien Moreau in the second quarter. Anderson made a leaping catch in the end zone for a 14- 0 lead with 10: 28 left in the first half.
The Bruins shook the cobwebs loose behind Perkins. He gained 60 yards on an 82- yard drive, including a 22- yard cut- and- run gain to the four- yard line. Perkins, who had 87 yards rushing in the f irst half, scored on the next play.