It may not have been the result UCLA wanted, but the Bruins showed a great effort on the road - despite ultimately losing 38-34. Kevin Prince went out with concussion symptoms in the second quarter, and the Bruins had to rely on backup quarterback Richard Brehaut. Brehaut didn't disappoint, but the Bruins just didn't have enough to keep up with the Houston Cougars.
Cougar quarterback Case Keenum was as advertised, going 30/40 with 310 yards and 2 touchdowns. The pro style offense of Houston concentrated more on making short passes and marching down the field. It was quick, and built to tire out defenses. That's exactly what happened, UCLA made plays on offense, but ultimately their defense got run ragged.
Kevin Prince was 3/3 when he went out, and Brehaut took over going 17/26 and 264 yards. When UCLA came out after halftime down 31-14, it was Brehaut's throw to Rosario that sparked the Bruin comeback. Rosario showed incredible concentration, catching the ball against the back of his defensive back. UCLA went on to score to bring it within ten, then scored again before the end of the third to go into the fourth quarter down by just a field goal.
But Houston just continued to roll and put the cap on this game in the fourth quarter. Keenum marched them down the field, and then on a 12 yard pass, Houston receiver Tyron Carrier fumbled on the one yard line. Houston's Thompson recovered the ball in the end zone to put Houston up by ten again.
Brehaut didn't give up, throwing a pass completion for a touchdown within the last two minutes. The extra point was blocked, and then UCLA failed to recover the onside kick, sealing their fate. Smith had also missed a 32 yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins now returns to the Rose Bowl to take on San Jose State, who are currently being handled by Stanford. For more on UCLA, check out Bruins Nation.