UCLA unable to pull trigger on offense

Reporting from Salt Lake City -- UCLA’s “pistol” offense had been efficient and lethal in back-to-back victories over California and Arizona State.

On Saturday, the Bruins merely seemed bewildered in a 31-6 loss to Utah.

UCLA finished with 295 total yards. Quarterback Kevin Prince labored through his worst game since the 49-20 loss to Texas on Sept. 17.

The Bruins had six false-start penalties and a delay of game. Prince had two passes intercepted, one returned for a touchdown. The running game was uneven.

“All the little things that happened can’t happen,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “I’m not putting it all on Kevin, but we have to be better.”

Prince had been effective in the Bruins’ zone-read run game the last two weeks, including posting a 163-yard effort against California. The Utes game plan was to make him hand off.

Prince finished with 10 yards rushing.

“Coming into the game, we felt we were ready,” Neuheisel said. “Obviously we weren’t as ready as we thought we were.”

Flagged

The Bruins finished with 91 yards in penalties, which included six false starts — four by tackle Mike Harris.

Harris said the Utes were shifting, yelling “move” along the defensive front.

“We got to play more disciplined,” Harris said. “We can’t have those costly penalties.”

Prince fine

Prince had to be helped off the field after throwing an interception that was returned 67 yards for a touchdown by Conroy Black. He also got up slowly later in the game after being sacked.

“I got rocked a couple times,” Prince said. “I got blindsided on the interception return, which knocked the wind out me. The other time I had a dead leg. It’s nothing serious.”

Running back Derrick Coleman, meanwhile, suffered a hip injury.

Road worriers

UCLA has a 3-18 record in conference road games under Neuheisel. The combined record of the teams the Bruins beat — Washington (2008), Washington State (2009) and Oregon State (2011) — is 3-30.

Cold front

The game began in a snow storm. The game-time temperature was 31 degrees, the second coldest since Rice-Eccles Stadium opened in 1998. The game-time temperature was 29 degrees at the start of the Utah-Brigham Young game in 2010.

The snow stopped in the second quarter, but the field remained slick.

“Early in the game there was sleet and snow; we had to change up routes a little,” UCLA tight end Joseph Fauria said. “Guys needed to watch their feet a little bit.”

UCLA officials were unable to find the last time the Bruins played a game in a snow storm, checking their records back to 1980.

Hester plays

Cornerback Aaron Hester was suspended for the first half for comments he made about referees after the Arizona State game last Saturday. Hester played in the second half.

Safety Tony Dye (neck) and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt (hip) did not play.

Family ties

Utah wide receiver Dres Anderson is the son of former UCLA and Rams’ wide receiver Flipper Anderson. Dres Anderson had a 32-yard reception in the third quarter that led to the Utes’ second touchdown.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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