UCLA 28, Washington State 25 (final)
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A key win for UCLA and a little redemption for Kevin Prince.
The Bruins evened their overall record at 3-3 and upped their Pacific 12 Conference record to 2-1 with a scoring drive, a two-point conversion and a clinching interception in the final minutes.
Prince, oft-maligned during his up-and-down, injury-plagued career as UCLA’s quarterback, came in as a reserve Saturday night at the Rose Bowl and led the Bruins to a victory that puts them in position to earn a bowl berth.
Starter Richard Brehaut sustained a fracture to the lower part of his left leg in the first half, and Prince took over from there, completing eight of 13 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also ran four times for 25 yards.
Prince’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Shaquelle Evans with 2 minutes 23 seconds left in the game, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Nelson Rosario, provided UCLA its margin of victory.
The win was sealed when Andrew Abbott intercepted a pass by Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael near midfield with 1:58 to play.
It was on the fourth timethis season that Lobbestael has had a pass intercepted. He has passed for 15 touchdowns, including two against the Bruins.
Washington State fell to 3-2 overall, 1-1 in the Pac-12.
RELATED:
UCLA vs. Washington State photos
GAME RECAP
UCLA 28, Washington State 25 (3:26 left in fourth quarter)
This Kevin Prince guy, UCLA’s backup quarterback, isn’t bad.
He just took the Bruins 71 yards in a little more than two minutes to put them in the lead.
He hit a wide open Shaquelle Evans on a slant pattern for the final seven yards and the touchdown.
Before and after, he and receiver Nelson Rosario did plenty of damage.
Prince connected with Rosario on a 58-yard gain to the Washington State 10. Then, after the touchdown, he found Rosario at the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion pass.
Prince has completed seven of 12 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington State 25, UCLA 20 (5:49 left in fourth quarter)
Cougars kicker Andrew Furney came into the game perfect -- five for five in field goal tries this season -- and he’s nearly doubled his pleasure against UCLA tonight at the Rose Bowl. Furney is four for four, including a 47-yard kick that will force UCLA to score a touchdown in the final minutes to win.
--Mike Hiserman
WSU 22, UCLA 20 (10:52 left in fourth quarter)
The Bruins went 63 yards in four plays, scoring in only 1 minute 25 seconds.
Kevin Prince threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith. But Prince’s two-point conversion pass to Nelson Rosario was broken up, leaving UCLA behind by two points.
WSU 22, UCLA 14 (12:25 left in fourth quarter)
UCLA got into a bigger hole when the Cougars marched 72 yards on 10 plays to open an eight-point lead.
Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael stepped up in the pocket and found running back Rickey Galvin near the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
The extra-point attempt was blocked, keeping the Bruins within striking distance.
WSU 16, UCLA 14 (end of third quarter)
The Bruins trailed by only two points entering the fourth quarter.
UCLA did open a 14-9 lead in the third quarter on a one-yard run by Derrick Coleman.
But the Cougars scored when Marshall Lobbestael found Jared Karstetter at the one-yard line for a touchdown, giving Washington State the lead.
WSU 16, UCLA 14 (8:42 third quarter)
Washington State answered UCLA’s touchdown by moving the ball right down the field for a touchdown.
The Cougars finally got into the end zone when quarterback Marshall Lobbestael hit Jared Karstetter for an eight-yard scoring strike.
The Bruins didn’t help themselves by allowing Isiah Barton to return the kickoff 36 yards to UCLA’s 41-yard line.
UCLA 14, WSU 9 (12:22 left in third quarter)
UCLA opened the second half with a six-play, 61-yard drive that was capped by Derrick Coleman’s one-yard touchdown run.
Johnathan Franklin had a 17-yard run and Kevin Prince threw a 21-yard pass to Nelson Rosario on the drive.
Injury update
UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut didn’t return because of a fractured lower left leg he suffered early in the second quarter.
The Bruins also lost defensive back Jamie Graham to a left knee injury.
Brehaut, who was injured on a run, rushed twice for 11 yards and completed four of seven passes for 28 yards.
Washington State 9, UCLA 7 (halftime)
UCLA’s defense got pushed around in the first half by Washington State, but the Bruins held strong.
UCLA’s offense, on the other hand, looked as if it was getting in gear despite starting quarterback Richard Brehaut going down early in the second quarter with a left leg injury.
Kevin Prince stepped in for Brehaut and helped direct the Bruins to a 7-6 lead.
But when Prince had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Damante Horton, it ruined UCLA’s chances of taking a lead at halftime.
The Bruins limited the Cougars to three field goals in the first half despite Washington State moving up and down the field.
After Andrew Furney made a 21-yard field goal for a 9-7 Cougars lead, the Bruins took over on their 36-yard line with 1:52 left in the second quarter.
Prince and the Bruins moved to the Cougars’ 15-yard line with 26 seconds left in the half.
But Prince’s pass to Nelson Rosario was a little short, allowing Horton to leap up for the interception.
Washington State 9, UCLA 7 (1:56 left in second quarter)
The Bruins looked as if they had stopped the Cougars again, forcing them into a 29-yard field goal that Andrew Furney missed.
But UCLA was called for a personal foul, for “leaping,” giving the Cougars the ball on the Bruins’ six-yard line.
However, the Bruins held the Cougars once again, forcing Furney to kick a 21-yard field goal that was good.
UCLA 7, Washington State 6 (7:03 left in second quarter)
Though UCLA was outplayed in the first quarter and lost quarterback Richard Brehaut to a left leg injury early in the second, the Bruins found a way to take the lead.
Kevin Prince, who replaced Brehaut, threw a 31-yard pass to Nelson Rosario, putting the ball at the Cougar’s one-yard line.
Derrick Coleman scored from there to give UCLA its first score in the game.
Washington State 6, UCLA 0 (early second quarter)
UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut was injured after a five-yard gain in the second quarter.
Brehaut was brought down by a couple of Washington State defenders and was helped off the field. It looked as if his left leg was injured.
Kevin Prince replaced Brehaut.
Washington State 6, UCLA 0 (13:32 second quarter)
The Cougars began their scoring drive toward the end of the first quarter and finished it at the beginning of the second.
When Andrew Furney kicked his second field goal of the game, this one from 26 yards, the Cougars had opened a 6-0 lead over the Bruins.
Again, UCLA’s defense didn’t allow Washington State to score a touchdown, but the Bruins still allowed another long drive by the Cougars.
Washington State 3, UCLA 0 (end of first quarter)
The Bruins were only down 3-0 because the first quarter ended with the Cougars on UCLA’s 15-yard line.
Washington State had 125 total yards in the first quarter, the Bruins just 13 total yards.
Washington State 3, UCLA 0 (9:09 left in first quarter)
UCLA’s defense took the field first and promptly was put on its heels by the high-powered Washington State offense.
The Cougars marched down the field, driving 76 yards, but were held to a 21-yard field goal by Andrew Furney.
The Bruins didn’t help themselves by committing two personal foul penalties. But UCLA could take solace in that it didn’t allow Washington State to score a touchdown.
Pregame
UCLA will be without two more defensive starters for tonight’s game against Washington State. Neither safety Tony Dye nor linebacker Glenn Love will play.
Dye, a captain and the team’s leading tackler in 2009, has battled a nerve issue in his neck since training camp. He missed the two previous games.
It has reached the point where Dye has sought alternative treatments, including an acupuncture session on Friday.
The loss of Dye weakens a UCLA secondary that is already without cornerback Sheldon Price (knee injury) and safety Alex Mascarenas (concussion).
Love will miss his second game since injuring a hamstring in practice.
Offensive guard Chris Ward (shoulder injury), defensive tackle Justin Edison (concussion) and kicker Kip Smith (hip flexor injury) are also out against Washington State.
--Chris Foster
