Cal scored every off quarter, and UCLA every even, but the Bruins held the turnover edge and converted those chances into points in a solid 31-14 win. After the loss to Arizona, Rick Neuheisel appeared to be a lame duck coach; but the hot seat may have moved a few hundred miles north. Kevin Prince was the star of the game, but the quarterback got it done with his legs and not his arm.
UCLA had a +3 in the turnover margin. Moreover, Cal’s Zach Maynard threw four interceptions in a game where he never settled down. Kevin Prince threw for just 92 yards, but he took over the game with his legs; rushing for 163 yards.
It came in bunches for UCLA, scoring 17 in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth. After halftime, Cal was able to pull within three after their opening drive stalled but Jordan James muffed the punt.
In the fourth quarter, the UCLA Bruins got two interceptions to go up big. First Tevin McDonald intercepted Maynard on the Cal thirty, leading to a twenty yard Derrick Coleman touchdown run. Then McDonald struck again, intercepting Maynard on the UCLA 16. Cal’s chances were already slim at this point, but when UCLA took the ball and marched 83 yards down the field they were non-existant. Zach Maynard wasn’t done though, and threw one more interception to Aaron Hester at the UCLA 37.
UCLA out-rushed the Golden Bears by more than 150 yards, but were out-passed by 100 yards. Not only did the UCLA defense force five turnovers, but Cal had a terrible 2-12 3rd down conversion rate.
UCLA certainly put the Arizona game behind them, and now go on to face Arizona St. with playing in a bowl now a realistic possibility. Jerry Rice Jr. had two catches on the day for 17 yards.