PASADENA “”mdash; Just when UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel thought he had the quarterback controversy settled, redshirt junior Kevin Prince had to make it interesting again as Washington State leads UCLA 9-7 after one half of play at the Rose Bowl.
The quarterback talk that dominated fall camp and the first three weeks of the season appeared to have subsided until one fateful play.
Junior Richard Brehaut, who has started the last three games at quarterback was inefficient to say the least throughout the first quarter of play. The Bruins punted on their first two drives and were only gained 13 yards in the first period.
Brehaut started to move the chains early in the second quarter, gaining two consecutive first downs. But after two quarterback runs that were accompanied by big hits, Brehaut tried to make his way back to the huddle before badly limping and falling to the field. He sustained a broken left leg on the play.
Prince jumped at the chance to end his three-week stay on the sideline and finished the eventual touchdown drive, highlighted by a 41-yard pass to senior Nelson Rosario. Prince was intercepted just before the half after leading a two-minute drive into Washington State territory.
The UCLA defense’s inability to get off the field on third downs continued in the first half, aided by penalties. The Cougars converted on five-of-10 third downs while the Bruins committed three penalties for 28 yards.
The Bruins, however, bent but didn’t break, stopping three potential touchdown drives inside the 10 yard line and turning them into field goals.