UCLA takes care of business, and Washington, 41-31
UCLA did what it needed to do at the Rose Bowl on Friday night: Beat Washington for the eighth consecutive time in Pasadena.
The Bruins won, 41-31, getting their first five touchdowns from players who usually star on defense.
Linebacker Myles Jack scored four touchdowns, becoming the first UCLA player to accomplish that feat in a game since Maurice Jones-Drew scored five against the Huskies in 2004.
The scores came on runs of eight, one, one and two yards.
The Bruins also got a two-yard touchdown reception from defensive end-turned-tight end Cassius Marsh.
UCLA improved to 8-2 overall, 5-2 in Pac-12 Conference play. The No. 13 Bruins are a half-game behind No. 19 Arizona State in the Pac-12 South Division. Arizona State plays host to Oregon State on Saturday.
UCLA controls whether it reaches the Pac-12 championship game. The Bruins play host to Arizona State in a week, and then play USC. The Trojans were tied with UCLA before the Bruins won Friday. USC plays host to No. 4 Stanford on Saturday.
Washington dropped to 6-4 overall, 3-4 in Pac-12 play.
Washington’s Bishop Sankey, who entered the game averaging 145 yards rushing a game, third-best in the nation, was held to 91 yards in 27 carries.
UCLA, meantime, rushed for 222 yards. Paul Perkins led the way with 86 yards in 21 carries, Malcolm Jones had 61 yards in nine carries and Jack had 59 yards in 13 carries.
The Bruins also forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries early in the game and two interceptions late in the game.
Washington played the second half without senior quarterback Keith Price, who sustained a shoulder injury on the Huskies’ final plays of the first half.
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Another interception for UCLA, this one by linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, who, in case your wondering, hasn’t done a darn thing on offense tonight.
The Bruins take over at the Washington 30 with a little more than two minutes to play.
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Randall Goforth’s third interception of the year has the Bruins with the ball at the Washington 39 with 3:26 left in regulation.
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UCLA 41, Washington 31 (8:01 left in fourth quarter)
The second-most impressive freshman on the Rose Bowl field tonight is Washington receiver Damore’ea Stringfellow.
He had only three receptions before tonight’s game, but he has seven for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The touchdown just came on a 14-yard pass from Cyler Miles.
Stringfellow was stopped at the two-yard line, but bulled his way through three defenders.
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UCLA 41, Washington 24 (9:57 left in fourth quarter)
That was fast.
One play after Washington turned the ball over at its own 40, the Bruins strike.
Brett Hundley hit Devin Lucien on a quick slant pattern and Lucien broke one tackle and made another defender miss on his way to the end zone.
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UCLA takes over at Washington 40 after pass on fourth-and-two falls incomplete.
That was a big risk by Huskies Coach Steve Sarkisian.
Bishop Sankey lost a yard on a third-and-one run, so maybe he felt he had to pass – even with a redshirt freshman backup in at quarterback.
There’s 10:04 to play.
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UCLA had a fourth-and-1 and didn’t have Jack on the field.
That was a dead giveaway that the Bruins were trying to draw an off-sides call.
They punted.
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We have an Anthony Barr sighting.
He just sacked Cyler Miles, who was trying to pass on third-and-seven.
Barr had been kept mostly quiet last week and again tonight.
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Heading into the fourth quarter with UCLA just that close to what would be key victory in quest for Pac-12 South Division title and shot in conference championship game.
The Bruins trail Arizona State by a game in the standings. They need a win with showdown versus Sun Devils coming up next week.
So far, so good.
UCLA is up, 34-24.
Washington has a 331-325 edge in total yards, but Huskies have lost quarterback Keith Price and are going with redshirt freshman Cyler Miles in second half.
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Travis Coons is no longer perfect on field-goal attempts.
Coons’ attempt at a season-long 48-yard field goal was blocked by Eric Kendricks.
Washington had driven to the UCLA 30 with a first down, but the drive stalled there.
The drive was extended when Washington converted on fourth-and-9 from its own 26 when Coons ran 12 yards on a fake punt.
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Myles Jack just made his second tackle of the game. The dude needs to pick it up.
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UCLA 34, Washington 24 (6:44 left in third quarter)
Myles Jack ran two yards for his fourth touchdown -- making him the first UCLA running back or linebacker or whatever he is to run for four touchdowns in a game since Maurice Jones-Drew did it against Washington in 2004.
On the drive, UCLA was third-and-two and gave it to Jack, who gained two.
Then it was third-and-three and Jack gained three.
And so it went. And goes.
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UCLA 27, Washington 24 (12:00 left in third quarter)
Turnovers were the difference for UCLA in the first half.
So far, it’s Washington’s turn in the second half.
Backup quarterback Cyler Miles connected with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on a one-yard scoring pass and the Huskies have cut what was a 20-point deficit to three.
Each team now has two turnovers. And each team has converted those turnovers into touchdowns.
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Redshirt freshman Cyler Miles opens the second half at quarterback for Washington.
Keith Price has a shoulder injury and is out for the rest of the game.
And Miles was put to work quickly.
UCLA’sDarren Andrews fumbled the second half kickoff and the Huskies recovered at the UCLA 26.
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It’s halftime of the Myles Jack Show, er, UCLA-Washington football game, at the Rose Bowl.
Jack, the guy Coach Jim Mora keeps saying is a linebacker, has run eight times for 50 yards and three touchdowns.
And yes, he’s been a factor on defense, too.
UCLA has 155 yards rushing to Washington’s 59, and a time-of-possession edge of nearly 2-to-1.
Malcolm Jones has 53 yards in six carries. Paul Perkins has 30 yards in seven carries, and quarterback Brett Hundley has run for 22 yards in six carries.
Hundley also has completed nine of 15 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Washington’s Bishop Sankey, third in the nation in rushing, has run for 53 yards in 15 carries. Huskies quarterback Keith Price has completed 10 of 18 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
However, Price ended the first half in pain after being hit hard twice during Washington’s last possession.
Two Washington turnovers -- in the Huskies’ first six plays -- are the difference in the game. UCLA converted both into touchdowns.
All four UCLA touchdowns have been scored by defensive players. Jack has his on runs of eight, one and one yards. The other came on a two-yard pass from Hundley to tight end/defensive end Cassius Marsh.
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UCLA 27, Washington 17 (1:12 left in second quarter)
Travis Coons is 10 for 10 on field-goal tries this season after drilling a 34-yard kick.
The field goal was set up on a pair of passes from Keith Price to Damore’ea Stringfellow totaling 59 yards.
Bad news for the Huskies, though: Price came off the field holding his right shoulder after being smacked hard on back-to-back plays.
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Running back Paul Perkins limped off the field during UCLA’s last possession.
The Bruins were already down a couple of backs. Any more linebackers who can run?
Oh yeah ... Anthony Barr!
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UCLA 27, Washington 14 (6:11 left in second quarter)
UCLA has scored twice after turnovers, and now Washington has done the same.
Hau’oli Kikaha stripped the ball from Malcolm Jones and Kevin King recovered for Washington at the UCLA 13.
On the fourth play after the turnover, Jaydon Mickens grabbed a short pass from Keith Price and dove two yards for a touchdown.
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Everything is going UCLA’s way.
Pac-12 football officials just struck again, nullifying what should have been a 36-yard touchdown pass from Keith Price to Damore’ea Stringfellow on a hands-to-the-face call that should not have been called against lineman Dexter Chandler.
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UCLA 27, Washington 7 (12:05 left in second quarter)
Myles Jack scored his third touchdown on another one-yard run.
UCLA drove 73 yards in 12 plays, and got a break when Washington stopped the Bruins on a third-down play but was called for pass interference away from the play.
The folks in Bellevue, Wash., where Jack went to high school, must have mixed emotions.
He was recruited by Washington and others as a running back, and it’s clear why.
He punishes defenders when he runs, looking like, um, a linebacker.
Jack has 50 yards in eight carries, so the Huskies can at least claim this: they’re holding his per-carry average down. He ran at a 20-yards-per-carry clip in his debut against Arizona.
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At the end of the first quarter, UCLA leads Washington, 20-7.
Washington’s Bishop Sankey, the nation’s third-leading rusher, has run for 34 yards in eight carries.
UCLA linebacker Myles Jack has run for 36 yards in four carries, and seldom-used Malcolm Jones has run for 41 yards in three carries.
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UCLA 20, Washington 7 (4:18 left in first quarter)
It’s that linebacker again.
Myles Jack scores from a yard out as UCLA completes its third series on offense with its third touchdown.
Not before some scary moments, though.
Jack ran for a first down on third-and-two, but fumbled after about a 10-yard gain. However, the ball squirted forward and he ended up being credited for a 25-yard gain when UCLA recovered.
On the next play, Brett Hundley threw back to Devin Fuller, who then threw to Roosevelt Davis for a 25-yard gain to the one.
Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the point-after kick.
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Myles Jack the linebacker runs for a first down, fumbles, but UCLA recovers.
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Third-and-two for UCLA, and remember Jim Mora, Myles Jack is a linebacker.
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UCLA 14, Washington 7 (6:46 left in first quarter)
Bishop Sankey scored on a two-yard run as Washington completed its first series of plays without a turnover.
The Huskies drove 95 yards -- more than half of it on a 50-yard pass play from quarterback Keith Price to Darrell Daniels.
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UCLA 14, Washington 0 (9:27 left in first quarter)
Two Washington turnovers, two UCLA touchdowns, two UCLA touchdowns scored by defensive players.
Brett Hundley’s first pass completion in four passes went to defensive lineman/tight end Cassius Marsh for a touchdown.
Washington turnovers had led to 10 points by opponents in nine previous games. Tonight, 14 points.
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Another turnover forced by the UCLA defense.
Bishop Sankey was running well for the Huskies, but on his third carry he was hit by Tahaan Goodman, who popped the ball loose.
Tackle Eddie Vanderdoes pulled it out of the air and took it back five yards to the Washington 48.
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Note for self: Myles Jack is a linebacker.
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UCLA 7, Washington 0 (12:22 left in first quarter)
Yes, Jim Mora, Myles Jack is a linebacker. And a heckuva running back, too.
Jack lined in the UCLA backfield for the first time in a first-and-goal situation, and it didn’t take long for him to have an impact.
His first touch went for eight yards and a touchdown, as he carried three Washington defenders into the end zone.
UCLA’s touchdown was set up by a fumble recovery by Anthony Jefferson.
The Bruins almost gave the ball right back, but an interception by Washington’s Sean Parker was nullified on a pass interference call. The penalty came on a third-down play and gave the Bruins a first down.
UCLA converted another third-down play on a run by quarterback Brett Hundley.
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Three plays into the game, and UCLA has come up with a big play.
On a third-and-four play, Washington quarterback Keith Price connected with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins for a gain that would have been a first down.
But Seferian-Jenks fumbled after being hit by Randall Goforth and Jordan Zumwalt. The ball was recovered by Anthony Jefferson.
UCLA’s ball at the Washington 36.
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UCLA running back Damien Thigpen, who has been hobbled by an injured ankle, is participating in warmups.
But the Bruins’ leader rusher from last week is not with the running backs group.
No surprise there. In case you missed it, Coach Jim Mora has said about a bazillion and three times in the past few days that Myles Jack “is a linebacker.”
Yes coach, we know that. But we still think that if you really want to win tonight’s game you might hand him the ball a few times.
And we know Mora really wants to win tonight’s game.
It’s probably not fair to expect Jack to perform as he did last week against Arizona, though. UCLA caught the Wildcats by surprise using a three-back set that included Jack and fellow linebacker Jordan Zumwalt.
That set won’t catch Washingtonby surprise, but you wonder what else UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone might have up his sleeve.
Against Arizona, Jack rushed for 120 yards in six carries, including a 66-yard touchdown romp. Zumwalt caught a pass for a 12-yard gain and a key first down.
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With kickoff about an hour away, Los Angeles Times’ UCLA beat reporter Chris Foster reminds us that the last time the Bruins played Washington was 2010. Rick Neuheisel was UCLA’s coach and Jim Mora was an analyst on television.
Mora is now on the sidelines and Neuheisel is in the studio.
The Bruins and Huskies play again tonight at the Rose Bowl under a cloudy sky. UCLA sits one game back of Arizona State in the Pac-12 South Division.
Washington won the 2010 game, 24-7, in Seattle, but has lost seven consecutive games to UCLA at the Rose Bowl dating back to 1995.
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