UCLA still controls fate in Pac-12 South race after loss to Washington State, 31-27

There was silver lining for UCLA. You just had to look real hard to find it.

The Bruins stumbled through a 31-27 loss to Washington State in the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.

One moment it looked like they salvaged the situation, when quarterback Josh Rosen made a mad dash for the go-ahead touchdown. The next moment, they were sifting through the rubble when Cougars quarterback Luke Falk tossed the game-winning touchdown pass with three seconds left.

Yet, when UCLA players trudged off to the field and reached the locker room they learned the Pac-12 South title was still within their reach. Arizona’s double-overtime victory over first-place Utah Saturday kept the Bruins relevant, one game back of the Utes.

UCLA plays at Utah next Saturday.

“I saw the scoreboard and that puts us right back into the same position we were just in,” receiver Jordan Payton said.

And there ended the good news for the Bruins. The losing result will make for a painful video session when reviewing the game.

Falk was harassed and beaten all night, but he was the one standing at the end.

Rosen scrambled 37 yards, hurling his body the last few yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1 minute 9 seconds left. What was left of the announced 76,255 -- and many had already fled -- was ready to celebrate.

Rosen knew better.

Asked if he felt like they had pulled out the win, Rosen said, “It seemed like everyone else did.”

Just who “everyone” was, Rosen wasn’t saying.

“I don’t want to say anything specifically,” Rosen said.

The Bruins’ defense comes to mind.

Falk answered by directing an all-too-easy, 75-yard drive. He completed a 30-yard pass to Dom Williams to the UCLA 20-yard line. Falk followed that up with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks with three seconds left.

Marks’ catch was more impressive because Bruins cornerback Ishmael Adams was flagged for pass interference on the play.

It left the Cougars (7-3 overall, 5-2 in Pac-12 play) dancing on the field after their first win in the Rose Bowl since 2006. The only thing the No. 19 Bruins (7-3, 4-3) had was another loss on Senior Day under Coach Jim Mora -- the fourth in four seasons.

“We should have been able to pull that one off,” UCLA safety Jaleel Wadood said.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda might as well have been the Bruins’ game plan.

Rosen threw for 340 yards. Paul Perkins gained another 121 rushing. Payton caught 14 passes, tying J.J. Stokes single-game school record. The Bruins finished with 554 yards of offense.

And they lost.

“Everyone is going to focus on the end of the game and the last play, but there were so many things that led up to that point,” Mora said.

UCLA they struggled to close out drives. The Bruins had five red-zone opportunities. They settled for one touchdown and four Ka’imi Fairbairn field goals.

“We have to put the ball in the end zone, we didn’t do it tonight,” Rosen said. “A lot things didn’t click. We were inches away sometimes and we just didn’t do it.”

The Bruins reached the two-yard line their first two possessions. Both times they settled for 22-yard field goals by Fairbairn.

Two false starts disrupted the first drive. Nate Iese, a receiver who lined up in the backfield, was caught for a three-yard loss that set the second drive back.

“The same old thing, penalties and dropped passes,” offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said. “We ran up and down the field. The first two drives we got a penalty or called stupid plays. Against a team like that, you can’t settle for field goals.”

The Bruins had 13 penalties for 75 yards, including six false starts. They also neared double figures in dropped passes.

“Our guys have to be more disciplined,” Mazzone said.

The Bruins ranked 122nd out of 127 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in penalties per game before Saturday.

“Penalties seem the motto of our team this year,” Perkins said.

There were other gaffes as well.

In the second quarter, Adams decided to field a punt inside the five-yard line and fumbled on the 14. He also had a holding call on third down, extending the Cougars’ short touchdown drive.

Kenneth Walker III, a receiver occasionally used as punter, shanked a kick for no yards in third quarter, giving Washington State the ball at the UCLA 47-yard line. Falk finished the quickie drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Marks for a 21-16 lead.

Receiver Darren Andrews fumbled to kill a UCLA drive in the third quarter. A dropped pass by Perkins on third down squelched the next drive.

It left the game in Falk’s hands.

The Bruins sacked Falk six times. They knocked him out of the game in the second quarter, only to see him return after halftime.

Falk had 331 yards passing and threw for two touchdowns in the second half.

“He made plays when he had to,” UCLA defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said.

The Bruins did not.

“That is something that we have to get over quickly,” Mora said.

The Bruins are still chasing that silver lining.

“We have to evaluate the loss and get ready for the biggest game of the year,” Payton said.

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter: @cfosterlatimes