UCLA holds off Washington State, 44-36
UCLA 44, Washington State36 (final)
Now I feel bad about saying Washington State had little talent.
That was a cheap shot born of frustration because of undisciplined play by both sides and officiating that was losing control of the game.
The Cougars do have some talent, and it’s giving the kind of effort that will probably save the team from a post-game Mike Leach rant.
Note: we did say probably.
At the end it was a one possession game.
The Cougars passed for 456 yards and outgained UCLA in total offense by 193 yards.
Washington State’s last touchdown came on three-yard pass from Connor Halliday Kristoff Williams, which was followed by a two-point conversion pass from Halliday to Dominique Williams.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, they couldn’t come up with the onside kick and UCLA ran out the clock.
Next up for the Bruins: USC at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA 44, Washington State 28 (6:25 left in fourth quarter)
If USC receivers are watching this game they have to be licking their chops.
Washington State quarterbacks Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday have combined to pass for 375 yards against UCLA – this on a day when the Cougars’ top receiver quit the team.
It still doesn’t look like the Bruins are really in any danger of losing this game, but Washington State keeps trying to make it interesting.
On the kickoff after Halliday connected with Dominique Williams on an 11-yard scoring pass, the Cougars came up with a turnover.
UCLA’s Kenneth Walker coughed up the football and Cyrus Coen covered it for Washington State.
That gave the Cougars the ball at UCLA’s 27-yard line.
But on the second play from scrimmage Halliday was rushed and threw up a floater over the middle of the end zone, where it was intercepted by Andrew Abbott.
UCLA 44, Washington State 21 (50 seconds left in third quarter)
There’s just no quit in these Cougars.
Not much talent in them, either, but saying any more than that at this point would be a low blow.
Washington State gains an average of less than 30 yards a game by running the ball, but the Cougars did pretty well on the ground in a seven-play, 85-yard scoring drive.
Forty-six of the yards came on runs. However, the touchdown came on a four-yard pass from Connor Halliday to Marcus Mason.
Hey, Washington State just won the third quarter, 14-7.
It’s something.
UCLA 44, Washington State 14 (4:10 left in third quarter)
We were kind of hoping that both teams would control themselves, the officials would let the boys play a little and this second half would roll to a expedited conclusion.
No such luck.
UCLA scored on a two-yard run that turned into a circus.
Jordan James crossed the goal line standing up, but was knocked back to about the one-yard line as the officials blew their whistles, signaling that the play was over.
Unfortunately, Cougars defender Daniel Simmons –- who knows, perhaps hard of hearing –- chose at that point to try to grab one of James’ legs and flip him on his side.
Poor form!
Which, of course, James just couldn’t let go.
No, he had to retaliate by going up to Simmons and shoving him -– meaning that Washington State’s unsportsmanlike penalty was nullified by UCLA’s unsportsmanlike penalty.
Fortunately for us television viewers, we missed the conversion kick. There were two different personal fouls called on Washington State on that play.
UCLA 37, Washington State 14 (7:05 left in third quarter)
Big news: Brett Hundley threw a pass that hit the turf.
Don’t snicker. At this point, that’s a legitimate statistic.
Hundley completed 11 of 13 passes in the first half, and one of his incomplete passes was actually caught -- by Washington State for an interception.
This most recent incomplete pass prompted a punt that ended UCLA’s first possession of the second half.
And now this: Washington State just converted on a third-down play.
Also a legitimate statistic!
Consider this: The Cougars were 0 for 10 on third downs in the first half.
We’ve got some trend-busters here, so stay tuned.
And now this: Washington State has converted on a fourth-and-six play. But, as if to remind us we were still watching the Cougars, the snap from center on the next play was dribbled back to quarterback Connor Halliday, who picked up the ball and chucked it to a player in the flat, who took a helmet-to-helmet hit by a UCLA defender.
UCLA, which is right up there with USC among the most penalized teams in major college football, has been penalized seven times for 93 yards.
On the next play, Halliday connected with Brett Bartolone on a fade route to the back corner of the end zone, a seven-yard scoring play.
More big news: Washington State actually got a kick past scrimmage and it went through the uprights for the extra point.
--Mike Hiserman
UCLA 37, Washington State 7 (1:18 left in first half)
The Cougars are in self-destruction mode.
Defensive end Cassius Marsh stripped the ball from quarterback Connor Halliday of the ball and linebacker Eric Kendricks scooped it up and went 40 yards for a touchdown.
It’s the second touchdown of the season for Kendricks.
UCLA 30, Washington State 7 (6:40 left in the second quarter)
Following a safety, quarterback Brett Hundley puts the game on track for a rout.
He completes a 31-yard pass to Joseph Fauria and then throws a 10-yard touchdown pass to Devin Fuller.
Hundley passed for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
UCLA 23, Washington State 7 (7:08 left in the second quarter)
The Bruins’ defense picks up some points.
Linebacker Anthony Barr grabs quarterback Connor Halliday and thows him down in the end zone for a safety.
UCLA also has a score from their special teams, which have blocked two field-goal attempts and a punt.
UCLA 21, Washington State 7 (7:27 left in the second quarter)
Stan McKay separated Washington State’s Teondray Caldwell from the ball on a kickoff return and Fabian Moreau recovered for the Bruins.
Hundley cashed in the turnover, tossing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria.
UCLA 14, Washington 7 (8:57 left in the second quarter)
After lurching along, the Bruins’ offense smoothes out the rough parts and puts together a slick 70-yard drive.
Quarterback Brett Hundley started it with a 40-yard completion to Jordan Payton.
Hundley then capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Johnathan Franklin on a screen pass. Franklin was able to absorb a hit along the sideline at the two and dive to the pylon.
UCLA 7, Washington State 7 (0:34 left in the first quarter)
The Cougars have had two field-goal attempts and one punt blocked. Yet they have tied the score.
After UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin fumbled on the Washington State 10-yard line, the Cougars marched 75 yards, with Connor Halliday throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to Dominque Williams.
UCLA helped out when penalized for roughing the passer.
UCLA 7, Washington State (10:53 left in the first quarter)The Bruins wasted little time in scoring, getting a touchdown on the first possession … the Cougars’ first possession.
Datone Jones blocked a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Washington State’s Michael Bowlin. Sheldon Price picked up the bouncing ball and went 68 yards for the touchdown.
Pregame
UCLA running back Damien Thigpen is not on the field for warmups. That would cost the Bruins one of their most dangerous playmakers tonight against Washington State.
Thigpen, who has a mild sprain in his left knee, is the team’s kickoff returner and third-leading rusher with 249 yards. He averages 5.1 yards a carry. He also has 17 receptions for 216 yards.
Thigpen has gained 20 or more yards on 17 occasionss this season, the most among UCLA players. He has scored four touchdowns, three on plays of 20 or more.
If Thigpen is out, it should mean more time for running back Jordon James.
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UCLA has not played a road game this important since 2005.
The Bruins, ranked No. 17, face Washington State tonight in Pullman. A victory leaves UCLA needing only to beat USC next week to win the Pac-12 South Division title and advance to the conference title game.
UCLA was 8-0 and ranked seventh when it traveled to Arizona in 2005. The Bruins lost to the Wildcats, 52-14.
History is on UCLA’s side tonight. When the Bruins are ranked, they are 10-2 on the road against Washington State.
--Chris Foster
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