UCLA barely gets its money’s worth in 27-17 win

Well, it was a victory.

UCLA was expecting a lot more for its money. But $425,000 doesn’t seem to go as far as it once did.

San Jose State was hired as fodder, getting a hefty guarantee to come south. But the Spartans — winners of three games the past two seasons — almost added a little red-face to the Bruins powder-blue and gold color scheme.

UCLA finally figured out who it was playing, picking up a 27-17 victory at the Rose Bowl by getting 10 points in the final seven minutes to prevent an 0-2 start and a whole lot of embarrassing questions.

“A victory boosts our morale,” defensive end Datone Jones said.

The Bruins needed two late scores, getting a 21-yard field goal from Kip Smith to break a 17-17 tie with 7 minutes 31 seconds left. Derrick Coleman’s 24-yard touchdown run four minutes later resulted in some serious exhaling.

Still, Jones said this week, “It doesn’t matter what Bruin Nation thinks, it doesn’t matter what our moms think, our family thinks, it only matters what we think here. We’re family working together. We really need this win.”

They did.

The Spartans (0-2) were squeezed between a Texas two step where the Bruins had already stumbled, losing, 38-34, to Houston. Texas comes to the Rose Bowl next Saturday.

“We got our first win,” Coleman said. “It’s a beginning.”

It might have been the end.

San Jose State (0-2) had two chances at making the seat under Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel sizzle.

“I’m glad we didn’t blink,” Neuheisel said.

But there was a lot of wincing.

The Spartans had 202 yards rushing, including a 65-yard spring by Brandon Rutley that tied the score, 17-17, with four minutes left in the third quarter.

“We’re going to look at the film and see where we left some things on the field,” Neuheisel said.

Those things were the football — twice in the second half, which nearly led to wild celebrations in San Jose.

Johnathan Franklin’s fumble gave the Spartans the ball at the UCLA 34-yard line with the score tied, 17-17, late in the third quarter. They got as close as the UCLA 17 before linebacker Sean Westgate intercepted a Blake Jurich pass.

Taylor Embree fumbled with the Bruins driving early in the fourth quarter. Jurich had another pass intercepted, this time by Sheldon Price.

UCLA lurched forward and received the field goal from Smith to break the 17-17 tie.

The Bruins went away from Neuheisel’s two-quarterback plan, with Kevin Prince sidelined with a sprained right shoulder suffered in last week’s 38-34 loss to Houston.

That left Richard Brehaut going solo. He did nothing special to end the quarterback controversy. Brehaut completed 12 of 23 passes for 145 yards. It was an adequate performance.

The same couldn’t be said for many other Bruins.

What finally got the Bruins over the top was their running game, something that seemed an obvious game plan with UCLA’s offensive line collectively outweighing the Spartans defensive front by 40 pounds.

UCLA finished with 272 yards rushing. Coleman came off the bench to bull-rush his way for 135 yards.

He had 49 yards on the Bruins’ final touchdown drive that allowed for a lot of brow dabbing in the stands.

“We have to make sure we have more than one back,” Neuheisel said.

“It wasn’t a pretty win,” Neuheisel said, “but it was better than the alternative.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

twitter.com/cfosterlatimes