Bruins missing two starters on defense
UCLA was without two more defensive starters Saturday in the 38-23 loss to Arizona State.
Cornerback Marcus Rios suited up, but did not play after spending the last three days in the hospital undergoing tests. Linebacker Jayon Brown was not in uniform because of a back injury.
Rios nearly died in 2013 from an aggressive fungal infection in his sinus cavities when he spent more than two months in the hospital. He went through a series of tests and was cleared late in the week.
It left the Bruins without their two cornerbacks who were starters when the season began. Fabian Moreau suffered a broken foot two weeks ago.
Ishmael Adams started at cornerback in Rios’ place
Brown had started the Arizona game last week in place of Myles Jack, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Brown was injured against the Wildcats and did not practice during the week.
Big boot
UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has had his struggles from long range. He entered Saturday’s game12 for 22 on kicks of 40 or more yards.
But Fairbairn gave the Bruins a boost just before halftime, when he nailed a 53-yard field goal with no time left to cut Arizona State’s lead to 15-10.
It equaled the fourthlongest kick in UCLA history. Two other Bruins have made 53-yard kicks. Kai Forbath did it twice, in 2008 and 2009, and Alfredo Velasco did it once, in 1988.
Chris Sailor’s 56-yarder in 1997 is the UCLA record.
Fairbairn’s kick came at the end of a frantic threeplay, 21-second drive. Paul Perkins had an 11-yard run and Josh Rosen completed two passes for 39 yards.
Payton charts
Jordan Payton’s eightyard reception in the third quarter moved into fifth on the all-time UCLA list.
He passed Nelson Rosario, who had 146 receptions from 2008-11. Payton finished with six catches, and now has 148 in his career.
Run for daylight
Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici has a reputation as a gunslinger, but his legs hurt the Bruins on Saturday.
Bercovici, who played at Woodland Hills Taft High, bolted untouched up the middle for a 34-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the longest run of his career.
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