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UCLA falls to California, 36-10, in season finale

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Get updates throughout UCLA’s game at California right here.

Scoring summary:

FIRST QUARTER

  • California kicker Matt Anderson makes a 43-yard field goal (California 3, UCLA 0)

SECOND QUARTER

  • California kicker Matt Anderson makes a 25-yard field goal (California 6, UCLA 0)
  • California kicker Matt Anderson makes a 44-yard field goal (California 9, UCLA 0)
  • California kicker Matt Anderson makes a 24-yard field goal (California 12, UCLA 0)

THIRD QUARTER

  • UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul throws a seven-yard touchdown to Kenneth Walker III (California 12, UCLA 7)
  • California’s Malik McMorris rushes for a one-yard touchdown (California 19, UCLA 7)
  • California quarterback Davis Webb throws a two-yard touchdown to Jordan Duncan (California 26, UCLA 7)
  • UCLA kicker J.J. Molson makes a 28-yard field goal (California 26, UCLA 10)

FOURTH QUARTER

  • California kicker Matt Anderson makes a 19-yard field goal (California 29, UCLA 10)
  • California quarterback Davis Webb throws a two-yard touchdown to Bud Rivera (California 36, UCLA 10)

UCLA finishes season with a 36-10 loss at California

To have any chance at playing in a bowl game, UCLA was going to need help from other teams. But first it had to help itself, and it did not do so in a 36-10 loss to California at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The Bruins (4-8, 2-7 in Pac-12 play) needed a win to have any shot at sneaking into a bowl as a 5-7 team. So did the Golden Bears (5-7, 3-6), and now they will wait to see if their Academic Progress Rate score is good enough to earn a postseason appearance since there are more bowl games than teams with six victories.

Meanwhile UCLA’s forgettable season comes to an unceremonious end, with star quarterback Josh Rosen on the shelf and backup Mike Fafaul navigating the team to a lopsided loss on a rainy Berkeley day. It was the first time a Sonny Dykes-led Cal team beat a California-based Pac-12 team.

Fafaul completed just 12 of his 30 passes to finish with 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Bruins finished with 260 total yards on 54 plays, while the Golden Bears amassed 496 total yards on 102 plays.

Cal quarterback Davis Webb paced the Golden Bears’ offense by completing 32 of his 48 pass attempts to finish with 301 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with wide receiver Chad Hansen 10 times for 156 yards. Cal’s relentless passing attack was complimented by running back Khalfani Muhammad, who rushed for 116 yards in 29 carriers.

Cal struck first with a 43-yard field goal from Matt Anderson toward the end of the first quarter. It came at the end of a 13-play drive that was fueled by short, lateral passes. UCLA’s offense, however, could do little to gain traction in the rainy conditions. The Bruins gained only 36 yards — all on the ground, for a change — in the first quarter. Fafaul had no completions in four attempts.

That set up another Golden Bears scoring drive, which materialized toward the end of the first and ended with Anderson’s second field goal of the game.

When the Bruins punted with 12:56 left in the second quarter, Fafaul still had not completed a pass on six attempts. Fafaul completed his first two passes on the next possession, which came after another Anderson field goal put the Golden Bears up 9-0. UCLA’s drive, its most promising to that point of the game, was ultimately crushed by two penalties.

Another Cal drive led to another Anderson field goal, and the Golden Bears went into halftime leading 12-0 as a result. UCLA gained just 97 yards in 27 plays in the first half, while the Golden Bears ran 55 plays for 267 yards. The lone bright spot for the Bruins was running back Nate Starks rushing for 73 yards in 10 carries, but the rare ground production did not lead to any points.

It was more of the same for UCLA to start the second half. The Bruins needed just 46 seconds to go three and out, and wide receiver Jordan Lasley looked dejected after Fafaul threw an incomplete pass at his feet.

The Bruins finally broke through on the next possession when two sizable gains through the air — 33 yards to Lasley, 35 yards to tight end Caleb Wilson — led to a seven-yard touchdown pass from Fafaul to Kenneth Walker III.

But Cal quickly answered with a one-yard touchdown rush by Malik McMorris, and then UCLA fumbled away the ensuing kickoff. Webb made quick work of the Bruins and punctuated a five-play drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Duncan. The score stretched the Golden Bears’ lead to 19 in the middle of the third.

UCLA drove down to earn a J.J. Molson field goal toward the end of the third, but Cal answered with Anderson’s fifth make of the game at the start of the fourth.

The score froze there, and the Bruins’ season froze with it.

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UCLA trails Cal, 36-10, in the fourth quarter

That should do it for UCLA’s season.

If there was any doubt about the outcome of this game, California quarterback Davis Webb hit Bud Rivera for a two-yard touchdown to give the Golden Bears a 36-10 lead over the Bruins with 9:41 left in the game.

After Devante Downs intercepted a pass by UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul, the Cal offense set up in Bruins territory. The drive was slow at first, but then Webb flicked a screen to Khalfani Muhammad and he ran 29 yards to the goal line.

Two plays later, Webb rolled out and found Rivera in the end zone for the score.

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UCLA trails Cal, 29-10, in the fourth quarter

UCLA kept Cal out of the end zone, but Matt Anderson’s fifth field goal of the game still inflicted damage after Adarius Pickett dropped a sure interception.

The Golden Bears now lead the Bruins, 29-10, with 12:26 left in the game.

Cal moved across midfield when quarterback Davis Webb hit Chad Hansen for 10 yards, and then deeper into UCLA territory when Webb found Jordan Veasy for five yards and a first down.

The Golden Bears were set back by a holding penalty after Khalfani Muhammad knifed toward the end zone. But Muhammad picked up a first down on a 14-yard run to erase the effects of the penalty.

Webb then worked Cal down to the goal line, and Nate Meadors broke up a pass intended for Chad Hansen in the end zone on third down. That sent Anderson onto the field for his fifth field-goal attempt of the game, and he nailed the 19-yard kick to make it a three-possession game.

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UCLA trails Cal, 26-10, in the third quarter

UCLA didn’t come away with a touchdown, but a field goal moves the Bruins to within two possessions of California with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

The Bruins trail the Golden Bears, 26-10, after a lethargic first half.

Not much has worked for the UCLA offense in this game, but Mike Fafaul has found a connection with tight end Caleb Wilson.

Wilson’s second sizable gain of the drive went for 18 yards and moved the Bruins into the red zone. UCLA’s drive stalled from there, and J.J. Molson then converted a 28-yard kick.

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UCLA trails Cal, 26-7, in the third quarter

A costly mistake led to points for California, and the Golden Bears now lead the Bruins, 26-7, with 6:07 left in the third quarter.

UCLA fumbled the kickoff return after a Golden Bears touchdown, and then thought it had a touchdown when Nate Meadors ran an interception all the way back. But the play was called back for a holding call on Meadors, and Davis Webb hit Chad Hansen for 23 yards two plays later.

And two plays after that, Webb found Jordan Duncan on a screen for a two-yard touchdown pass.

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UCLA trails Cal, 19-7, in the third quarter

UCLA scored its first points of the game, and California immediately answered when Malik McMorris rumbled into the end zone from one yard out.

The Golden Bears now lead the Bruins, 19-7, with 8:17 left in the third quarter.

Cal inched toward midfield with more short gains, and then quarterback Davis Webb hit Chad Hansen for 16 yards on a crossing route. On the next play, Webb lofted a pass to Hansen at the right pylon.

Hansen caught it and reached out with the ball. The play was initially ruled a touchdown, but a replay review showed that Hansen stepped out of bounds about a yard short of the goal line.

It only delayed the inevitable, as McMorris carried the ball into the end zone one play later.

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UCLA trails Cal, 12-7, in the third quarter

It took a while, but finally the UCLA offense showed some life in Berkeley.

The first sign was a 33-yard pass from Mike Fafaul to Jordan Lasley. The second was a 35-yard pass to Caleb Wilson for 35 yards that moved the Bruins into the red zone for the first time all game.

Two plays later, Fafaul connected with Kenneth Walker III for a seven-yard touchdown. As a result, UCLA trails California, 12-7, with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

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UCLA and Cal trade punts to start the second half

UCLA has been abysmal so far against California, but the Bruins certainly aren’t out of it. UCLA trails 12-0 at the start of the second half, and both teams punted on their first possession of the third quarter.

The Bruins started with a pass down the right sideline, but Mike Fafaul threw short of Kenneth Walker III. Two plays later, Fafaul looked to the other sideline and threw short of Jordan Lasley, and UCLA was off the field in 46 seconds.

Cal quickly moved the ball after the Bruins punted it away, but their first drive of the half also stalled. Davis Webb hit Chad Hansen for a 19-yard gain on the second play of the drive, but then two short gains led to an incomplete pass on third down.

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UCLA-California: Stats from the first half

UCLA trails California, 12-0, at halftime at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The Bruins and Golden Bears both need a win to improve to 5-7 and have an outside chance at playing in a bowl.

Here are some notable stats from the first two quarters:

UCLA

  • Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul completed just two of 11 pass attempts for 23 yards in the first half.
  • UCLA running back Nate Starks ran 10 times for 73 yards in the first half. On the season, the Bruins have averaged 2.9 yards per carry and have been one of the nation’s worst rushing teams.
  • The Bruins receivers continued to drop too many passes in the first two quarters of this one. Jordan Lasley led the way with one catch for 22 yards.
  • In total, UCLA gained just 97 total yards on 27 plays in the first half. The Bruins were also just one for seven on third down.

California

  • Cal quarterback Davis Webb completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 159 yards in the first half.
  • Running back Khalfani Muhammad ran 10 times for 61 yards in the first half. Tre Watson was right behind him, rushing 11 times for 57 yards and picking up a critical fourth down in the first quarter.
  • Chad Hansen, one of the Pac-12’s best wide receivers, led Cal with six catches for 65 yards in the first two quarters. Muhammad caught five passes, mostly screens, and gained 19 yards through the air.
  • In total, Cal 267 yards on 55 plays in the first half. The Golden Bears were one for 10 on third down, but two for two on fourth down.
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UCLA trails Cal, 12-0, in the second quarter

Another California drive, another Matt Anderson field goal.

It is not exactly what the Golden Bears are looking for, but Anderson’s fourth field goal of the game — this one from 24 yards — stretches their advantage to 12-0 over UCLA with two minutes left in the first half.

A fumble set Cal back to a second and 25 in its own territory, but Davis Webb hit Chad Hansen for 26 yards to pick up a first down on third and 18. Two plays later, Webb lofted a pass to Jordan Veasy that went for 21 yards and moved the Golden Bears to the Bruins’ 19-yard line.

From there, Webb continued to pick apart the UCLA defense with short passes. Webb then tried two straight fade passes to the back-right corner of the end zone, and the Bruins were able to break up each one.

That set up third and goal on the seven-yard line. Webb threw an incomplete pass out of the back of the end zone to set up yet another Anderson field goal.

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UCLA’s offense moves before penalties hold it back

UCLA finally completed a pass, but then a pair of penalties halted the drive before it could truly materialize.

Mike Fafaul completed his first pass — it took seven tries and more than a quarter — when he found Kenneth Walker III for a one-yard screen. He followed that with a 22-yard chuck to Jordan Lasley on the next down, and then Nate Starks rushed twice to set up third and one in Cal territory.

Starks then took an inside handoff and moved the chains with a three-yard gain. Fafaul found freshman Theo Howard for a sizable gain on the next down, but a holding penalty erased the play and set up first and 20 on the edge of Golden Bears territory. Then a false start penalty on wide receiver Darren Andrews set up second and 17, and back-to-back incomplete passes led to a punt.

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UCLA trails Cal, 9-0, in the second quarter

California may go as far as Matt Anderson’s foot will take them on Saturday, and it could be enough. The kicker’s third field goal of the game, this one from 44 yards, gave the Golden Bears a 9-0 lead over UCLA with 9:42 left in the first half.

Cal, which has not run the ball well this season, continued to pound the ground to start this possession. But the drive really started to move when UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley was called for a 15-yard personal foul after a late hit on Tre Watson.

Two downs later, Golden Bears quarterback Davis Webb connected with Khalfani Muhammad for a screen and Muhammad scampered 11 yards to the Bruins’ 34-yard line.

The drive stalled from there, but Anderson made sure it wouldn’t be fruitless. He knocked in his third field goal of the game to nudge his team ahead by two possessions.

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UCLA’s offense continues to stall, Mike Fafaul has yet to complete a pass

With 12:56 remaining in the second quarter, UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul has still not completed a pass.

The Bruins trail California, 6-0, and need a win today to finish with a 5-7 record and have an outside chance at making a bowl.

Fafaul has attempted six passes with no success, but the complete absence of a passing game hasn’t been all his fault. UCLA receiver Darren Andrews dropped a screen pass in the first quarter, and Jordan Lasley saw an eight-yard pass go through his hands on the Bruins’ last possession.

Dropped passes have plagued UCLA all season, and Saturday has been no different.

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UCLA trails Cal, 6-0, at the start of the second quarter

A penalty cost California a touchdown, but the Golden Bears still came away with three points to start the second quarter.

Matt Anderson’s 25-yard field goal, his second make of the game, gives Cal a 6-0 lead over UCLA with 13:43 left in the second quarter.

Cal went to the ground to start the possession, and Khalfani Muhammad rushed up the middle for 11 yards. That was followed by a 19-yard pass from Davis Webb to Bug Rivera, and then a holding call on UCLA moved the Golden Bears into the red zone.

Two plays set up third and three from the Bruins’ 10-yard line, and Muhammad gained just two yards. Cal kept the offense on the field for fourth down, and Tre Watson rumbled ahead to give the Golden Bears a fresh set of downs as the first-quarter clock ran out.

On the first play of the second quarter, UCLA safety Randall Goforth stuffed a toss play before it could go anywhere. On the next down, Watson cut inside to put his team on the two. Webb rolled right and found a receiver for a score, but a pass interference penalty negated the touchdown pass.

The penalty cost the Golden Bears 15 yards, and Anderson knocked in his second field goal of the game two plays later.

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UCLA trails Cal, 3-0, in the first quarter

California strikes first at Memorial Stadium with a 43-yard field goal from Matt Anderson.

The field goal punctuated a 13-play, 59-yard drive and gives the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead over UCLA with 3:37 left in the first quarter.

Cal started to move the ball on its fourth possession, which was kick-started by a 15-yard run from Tre Watson. Two Davis Webb passes then picked up another first down, and the Golden Bears continued to move on the Bruins with short, lateral gains.

The Bruins then stopped Cal on a third and short, but the Cal offense stayed on the field to go for it on fourth and one. Webb took one step back before throwing a screen to Jack Austin, and Austin easily picked up the first down with a six-yard gain.

UCLA stopped the Golden Bears on the next three downs, which set up Anderson’s tie-breaking field goal.

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UCLA continues to hurt itself with dropped passes

One recurring problem seemed to go away for UCLA, but another one quickly picked up the slack.

UCLA has had trouble running all season, but Nate Starks picked up two straight big gains on the Bruins’ third possession. The first went for 15 yards and the second for 17, which led to back-to-back first downs.

But the progress was erased by a Devante Downs sack on second down, which set UCLA back five yards and set up third and 15. On third down, Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul tried to throw a screen to Darren Andrews. But Andrews, like UCLA receivers have all season, let the ball bounce off his hands and hit the soggy Memorial Stadium grass.

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UCLA’s defense is holding Cal in check early on

The UCLA offense has been slow out of the gate in Berkeley, but its defense looks to be locked in during the early going against California.

There is still no score in the game with 10:25 left in the first quarter.

Twice UCLA had a chance to take the ball away from Cal — the first on a should-have-been Randall Goforth interception and the second on a third-down sack that was negated by a penalty.

The Bruins defense stayed stingy from there, even after Khalfani Muhammad burst into UCLA territory on a 12-yard run. On the Golden Bears’ next third down, Davis Webb flicked a screen to Muhammad, but he was taken down behind the line of scrimmage.

The Cal offense stayed on the field, but Webb took a few steps back before kicking a pooch punt to pin the Bruins deep in their own territory.

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UCLA forces a punt on Cal’s first possession

UCLA started a must-win game on the right foot.

The Bruins kicked to California to start the game, and the Golden Bears started with a screen for two yards. On the next down, Khalfani Muhammad bounced up the middle for five yards.

But then Cal quarterback Davis Webb dropped back and tried a deep ball down the right sideline, and UCLA safety Randall Goforth broke up the pass to force a Golden Bears punt.

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UCLA needs a win for any chance at bowl contention

Before the stakes get complicated, they are very simple.

UCLA (4-7) must beat California (4-7) at Memorial Stadium today to have any chance of earning a bowl bid. The same goes for the Golden Bears. Whichever team wins this matchup will hope their Academic Progress Rate score is high enough to sneak into a bowl with a 5-7 record.

It is certainly not the most glamorous way to play into the postseason, but it is a way to play into the postseason nonetheless. UCLA Coach Jim Mora has not confirmed whether or not UCLA, should it beat Cal, would accept an invitation to what would be a very small bowl game.

Mora will not have to make that decision unless the Bruins can win their first road game since beating Brigham Young on Sept. 17. The UCLA defense will have its hands full with Golden Bears quarterback Davis Webb, who 35 touchdown passes this season.

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As Bruins end disappointing season, future success might be a matter of style

UCLA running back Bolu Olorunfunmi fumbles the ball against USC but would recover it in the second quarter on Nov. 19 at the Rose Bowl.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

It doesn’t matter if I say I’m going to run a pro-style, I’m going to run the spread, I’m going to run the wishbone. It doesn’t matter as long as you figure out what this group of young men can do and then play to their strengths.

— Mike Bellotti, ESPN analyst

The season will end soon enough for UCLA. There are no such assurances of finality to the major issues beleaguering the Bruins.

What is likely to be UCLA’s last game of the season Saturday against California at Memorial Stadium will not necessarily be the cutoff point for an inert running game, an erratic offensive line and a group of receivers responsible for more drops than a roller coaster.

The Bruins switched to a pro-style offense with hopes that it would accentuate quarterback Josh Rosen’s strengths while providing a power running game. It never happened. UCLA reverted to more of a spread look even before Rosen sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in early October, and then used it almost exclusively once backup quarterback Mike Fafaul took over.

The losses continued and the Bruins (4-7 overall, 2-6 in Pac-12 Conference) were left with a philosophical dilemma: What now?

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UCLA vs. California: How they match up

Most intriguing story line: This could be dubbed the APR Bowl. The winner of what otherwise seems like an inconsequential game could parlay a 5-7 record and its Academic Progress Rate score into a bowl bid if there are not enough teams with .500 or better records to fill the 80 bowl slots. UCLA would have a better chance of securing a bid than Cal based on its 972 APR from the most recent reporting period compared to the Golden Bears’ 960. Bruins Coach Jim Mora has not said whether his team would accept a bowl invitation with a losing record, a nod to the need to win this game before considering that possibility.

UCLA pass offense vs. Cal pass defense: This is probably the last college game for Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul, the fifth-year senior who has admirably stepped in for the injured Josh Rosen without much to show for it. UCLA is 1-4 in the games he has started largely because the Bruins haven’t developed a run game to support what Fafaul has been able to do through the air. One positive in recent weeks has been the emergence of receivers Jordan Lasley and Theo Howard, who could become the go-to targets Rosen will need next season.

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