USC freshman wide receiver Robert Woods makes a dive into the endzone under pressure from UCLA redshirt sophomore cornerback Aaron Hester. Despite 104 rushing yards from redshirt sophomore running back Johnathan Franklin in the first half, the Bruins went on to lose for the fourth consecutive time to the Trojans, 28-14.
PASADENA ““ And so a disappointing and trying season becomes a piece of history. And so the status quo remains unperturbed in a one-sided rivalry. And so an offseason of change begins.
With one last gasp at salvaging something to build on for the future, playing only for pure, unadulterated pride, the UCLA football team’s finale went much like its season.
UCLA (4-8, 2-7 Pac-10) failed to take back the Victory Bell on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, losing 28-14 to USC (8-5, 5-4), the Bruins’ fourth straight loss in the series and their 11th in the last 12 contests against their foes from across town.
The 71,105 passionate fans in attendance ““ emblazoned with the blues and reds that divide the city of Los Angeles on all fall weekends ““ split the Bruins’ Pasadena stadium just the same. By the final whistle though, the blood-red victors stood out, swaying to the continuous sound of their fight song, cheering at the masses of their players who celebrated on what became their night.
The Blue and Gold had moments of possibility though. The Bruins were within striking distance of the chinks in the Trojans’ armor, but in the moments that counted, they failed to make the crucial blow.
For anyone who has followed this team through the ups and downs of its 12-game schedule ““ and coach Rick Neuheisel certainly did ““ it sure seemed like the season had been full of that.
“At the end of the day, at the end of the season, that really is what it comes down to,” Neuheisel said. “We got close. We didn’t make the play.”
USC did make that play however. With the Bruins’ offense driving into Trojan territory late in the first half, they were poised to break the 7-7 tie in their favor, what would have been the first UCLA lead in the rivalry since the first quarter of the 2008 game.
But redshirt sophomore running back Johnathan Franklin fumbled the ball and USC linebacker Malcolm Smith picked it up and ran 68 yards the other way to solidify a 14-7 Trojan tilt. He might as well have been carrying off all the Bruins’ hope with him.
UCLA would never get that close to the lead again. They had a taste, but the Bruins would never get another bite.
“We had the opportunity to put them away early,” junior wideout Taylor Embree said. “We couldn’t do it.”
As much as Franklin’s fumble hurt the Bruins’ charge, he was the reason they were on the scoreboard in the first place. His 59-yard run in the first quarter was a quick counter to a five-yard USC touchdown pass that resulted from a direct snap to running back Dillon Baxter who decided to throw and hit tight end Rhett Ellison in the endzone.
After halftime, UCLA’s ball control woes did not disappear. Sophomore quarterback Richard Brehaut, fresh off a career-high 321-yard performance last week, would add an interception and a fumble to the cause, on back-to-back series no less.
“We had far too many turnovers this year,” Neuheisel said. “Absolutely, it was the worst part of our game.”
USC helped by returning the favor a number of times. Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley threw two interceptions in the third quarter, but the Bruins could not capitalize.
“Second half we got the ball a couple of times and just couldn’t get anything to happen,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said.
USC running back Allen Bradford didn’t make anything easier for UCLA, scoring the Trojans’ two second-half touchdowns, which sealed the deal. Bradford rushed for 212 yards, including a 79-yard breakaway touchdown, and also caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Barkley.
A last-minute score from Brehaut to redshirt sophomore tight end Joe Fauria was all for naught, time had run out for any final heroics.
In his postgame press conference, Neuheisel said he was sick for his kicker Kai Forbath. The redshirt senior came into the game tied for the UCLA record for career field goals. He never got a chance to break the record in his final game as a Bruin.
Both of the Los Angeles programs’ seasons ended with the final whistle. UCLA’s meager four wins does not qualify them for a bowl trip and USC is serving a two-year postseason ban.
There was a calm in the Bruins’ Rose Bowl locker room after the game. There were no tears or shouts. The team had resigned itself to its fate.
“It’s bittersweet,” redshirt senior offensive tackle Micah Kia said. “Sweet, as in I get to rest my knees. Bitter, as in I don’t get to suit up as a Bruin again.”