It was the type of loss that left UCLA eager for one thing else, like basketball season.
Two quarterbacks had been misplaced to damage. Two subject objectives went astray, together with one which was blocked. Three probabilities within the pink zone got here up empty.
UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers stays down on the sector after sustaining an damage within the fourth quarter towards Arizona.
(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
Fittingly, the Bruins’ last drive towards Arizona on Saturday night time ended with a third-string quarterback throwing a fourth-down go that fell incomplete, giving the ball again to the Wildcats.
About the one countermeasure UCLA might make use of from there was calling a timeout to momentarily cease the clock inside Arizona Stadium. That simply delayed the inevitable frustration that adopted the No. 19 Bruins’ 27-10 loss that dropped them into seventh place within the Pac-12 standings and certain out of the nationwide rankings.
“I instructed them it stings and it hurts,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly mentioned, “and it stings and it hurts as a result of they put a lot into it.”
UCLA completed the sport with Collin Schlee at quarterback after starter Ethan Garbers left early within the fourth quarter with an obvious proper leg damage and backup Dante Moore departed two sequence later after hitting his head on the unreal turf.
None might get in a lot of a rhythm except one hurry-up drive to finish the primary half.
Even so, UCLA (6-3 total, 3-3 Pac-12) was clinging to faint comeback hopes after Kain Medrano blocked a punt early within the fourth quarter, giving the Bruins the ball at Arizona’s 31-yard line whereas trailing 24-10.
Moore transformed one third down earlier than dealing with a fourth and 19. His go underneath stress was snagged by operating again T.J. Harden with one hand for a five-yard acquire and a turnover on downs. Moore hit his head on the play, forcing him to go to the locker room.
Arizona (6-3, 4-2) tacked on a subject purpose on the best way to changing into bowl eligible for the primary time since 2017. Followers stormed the sector in celebration of the Wildcats’ third consecutive victory over a nationally ranked staff that coach Jedd Fisch mentioned was sparked by his staff’s heartbreaking loss to USC.
Masterfully executing a quick-passing assault, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita accomplished 25 of 32 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Fifita received some assist early within the fourth quarter from large receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who planted his left foot inbounds on a 12-yard landing go to supply a 24-10 lead.
Arizona operating again Rayshon Luke breaks away from UCLA linebacker Ty Lee for a 66-yard reception within the fourth quarter.
(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
All the pieces tilted Arizona’s manner within the last assembly between the groups as Pac-12 rivals. The Wildcats outgained the Bruins 429-271 in whole yardage and transformed 11 of 16 third downs, with Fifita repeatedly escaping stress on crucial performs to increase drives.
His Bruin counterparts weren’t practically as efficient. Garbers accomplished 13 of 21 passes for 143 yards and a landing earlier than getting harm. Regardless that Schlee was already heat at that time, having been within the recreation for the reason that second play, Kelly went with Moore off the bench.
“We talked about numerous issues,” Kelly mentioned, “however we knew what we needed to do to get again within the recreation there just a little bit, so went with Dante.”
Moore accomplished 4 of seven passes for 14 yards throughout his two drives.
UCLA stumbled its solution to a 14-7 halftime deficit that it salvaged solely with a landing drive courtesy of an uptempo offense that drove 75 yards in 87 seconds.
Garbers’ 14-yard landing go to tight finish Carsen Ryan within the entrance of the tip zone with three seconds left within the second quarter was virtually the one factor that went proper for the Bruins within the first half.
The listing of what went incorrect was much more exhaustive.
Arizona large receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig scores a landing towards UCLA defensive again Jaylin Davies (24) and defensive lineman Laiatu Latu in the course of the first half.
(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
UCLA combined in Schlee liberally, typically for only one play on a drive, with restricted success. Schlee fumbled a snap throughout one particularly hideous second-quarter sequence that concluded with Garbers getting sacked and kicker Blake Glessner having a 41-yard subject purpose blocked.
The Bruins pivoted to Glessner after R.J. Lopez had struggled mightily, lacking 5 of his final eight subject objectives and dropping an open competitors between the kickers in apply this week. However the change led to comparable outcomes, Glessner additionally lacking a 42-yard try large left within the first quarter.
Glessner lastly made a 29-yard subject purpose late within the third quarter after Garbers was sacked on third down, sparing him an interception as a result of his knee was down earlier than he launched the ball.
“We’ve received to transform when we have now the ball within the pink zone,” Kelly mentioned. “You understand, we’re buying and selling threes for sevens and you’ll’t commerce threes for sevens towards an excellent offensive staff like they’ve.”
One other wrongdoer was UCLA edge rusher Grayson Murphy, whose unsportsmanlike conduct penalty prolonged one Arizona drive late within the second quarter. The Bruins ultimately stuffed the Wildcats for losses on back-to-back performs, just for Fifita to beat a blitz with a nine-yard landing go to Jacob Cowing on a fast slant to present his staff a 14-0 lead.
Extra Bruins blunders adopted. Edge rusher Carl Jones Jr. gave the Wildcats a primary down with a facemask penalty. Left deal with Bruno Fina dedicated a horribly timed false begin, turning a fourth-and-14 right into a fourth-and-19.
“Principally errors on us,” mentioned UCLA operating again Carson Steele, a part of a speeding assault that averaged simply 3.9 yards per carry. “The runs, the routes … go safety.”
There wasn’t a lot else to say. Basketball season begins Monday.
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