SEATTLE “”mdash; UCLA learned its lesson the hard way: Never go against a group of Huskies in a dogfight.
On a strikingly cold night in central Washington, UCLA was out-pounded by host Washington and fell 24-7.
The loss is a potentially devastating one for the Bruins, although the math is now quite a bit easier: They now have to win each of their last two games in order to achieve bowl eligibility.
UCLA appeared to set the tone early in the game when it put together a 13-play, 92-yard drive that was capped off by a 31-yard touchdown run from Johnathan Franklin. But it was all downhill after that, as Washington’s running game took over and its defense was able to silence the Bruins’ suddenly meager attack.
Husky quarterback Jake Locker scored on a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to tie the game. Kicker Erik Folk hit a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Washington a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
As if it could handle any more blows, the UCLA offense lost quarterback Richard Brehaut in the third quarter to an apparent injury. Darius Bell took over but was unable to lead the Bruins back.
None of the quarterbacks ““ on either side ““ were able to generate much of anything. Locker, in his first game back since suffering a rib injury, completed just 10-of-21 passes for 68 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. Brehaut was just 5-of-17 for 42 yards, with an interception to his own credit. In just more than a quarter of work, Bell completed zero passes, and threw an interception late in the fourth quarter which was returned for a touchdown by Washington cornerback Quinton Richardson. Even redshirt junior quarterback Clayton Tunney took his first snaps of the season, and threw an interception of his own.
Instead, Washington running back Chris Polk was the hero; the redshirt sophomore gained 143 yards on 27 carries, including a number of big runs in the second half and a game-sealing touchdown run in the fourth quarter.