UCLA football: California 45, UCLA 26 (final)

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

California, bottled up and beaten up in its previous two games, found a release for frustration Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

The Bears, held to a total of six points in back-to-back losses to Oregon and USC, piled up one big play after another in a 45-26 victory over UCLA.

Jahvid Best had a 93-yard touchdown run, the third longest in program history, and also a 51-yard touchdown reception. Shane Vereen, Best’s backup, had a 42-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Kevin Riley passed for 205 yards and three first-half touchdowns, two to Marvin Jones, covering 43 and 24 yards.

UCLA, which at one time was ranked ninth in the nation against the run, gave up 288 yards rushing. Vereen had 154 and Best had 102.

The Bruins’ defense against the run has collapsed the last three games. UCLA have up 221 yards rushing to Oregon and 174 to Stanford.

A big play by Cal’s defense sealed it. Mychal Kendricks intercepted a Kevin Prince pass and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown with 5 minutes 5 seconds remaining in the game.

California 38, UCLA 26 (fourth quarter) End of third quarter tale of the tape. UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince: 15 for 27, 237 yards, no TDs, 1 sack. Not bad. UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin: 10 rushes, 100 yards (minus a one-yard loss). One TD, of 74 yards. Pretty good, particularly for a guy with a bum ankle.

Cal quarterback Kevin Riley: 10 for 18, 185 yards, 3 TDs. He looked awful the previous two games . . .so 3 touchdowns? Nice bounce back. Cal running back Shane Vereen: 12 rushes, 145 yards, 1 TD . . . a 42-yard gallop. And he’s second string. Cal running back Jahvid Best? 14 rushes, 102 yards (taking away 24 yards in losses), 1 TD, a highlight 93-yard run for the ages.

-- Kurt Streeter

California 38, UCLA 26

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince worked the Bruins down the field again, but on third-and-eight at the 17, his pass into the end zone to Taylor Embree was incomplete. Kai Forbath kicked a 35-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, tying his career high.

California 38, UCLA 23 (third quarter)

UCLA took its first possession of the second half and got close enough for Kai Forbath to nail a 46-yard field goal, his third of the game.

A 40-yard run by Cal tailback Shane Vereen set the Bears up for a 26-yard field goal by Giorgio Tavecchio for a 38-23 lead. The Bears have two running backs over 100 yards, Vereen and Jahvid Best.

Injury update

Guard Eddie Williams will not return to the game after he fractured his left ankle in the first half.

California 35, UCLA 20 (halftime)

The big plays UCLA has craved were on display at the Rose Bowl in the first half today. Unfortunately for Bruins fans, California was making most of them.

The Bears had four touchdown plays of 43 yards or more to take a 35-20 lead into the half. Their short scoring play was a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Riley to Marvin Jones with 46 seconds left in the half for a 35-17 lead. Jones beat cornerback Alterraun Verner, the Bruins best cover man, for the second time in the game.

The Bruins defense had no answers. California was pinned on its own seven-yard line facing a second-and-12 play. A moment and four missed tackles later, Jahvid Best was in the end zone for a 28-14 Bears’ lead. Best took a tour of the Bruins’ defense for a 93-yard run that was the longest of his career and the third longest in Cal history.

Best also had a 51-yard touchdown reception. Riley, who was eight for 13 for 164 yards, also threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Jones, who had slipped past Verner. The touchdown came one play after a fumble by UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince.

UCLA’s defense, which at one point this season was ranked ninth nationally against the run, allowed 212 yards rushing in the first half. Best had 103 yards and Vereen had 88.

UCLA’s lone big play was a 74-yard run by Johnathan Franklin, the Bruins’ longest scoring since Maurice Drew went 83 yards against Arizona State in 2003.

California 28, UCLA 17 (second quarter)

UCLA had California pinned on its own seven-yard line facing a second-and-12 play. A moment, and four missed tackles later, Jahvid Best was in the end zone for a 28-14 Bears’ lead. Best took a tour of the Bruins’ defense for a 93-yard run that was the longest of his career and the third longest in Cal history.

UCLA came back immediately, with Kevin Prince tossing a 48-yard pass to tight end Logan Paulsen. The drive stalled and the Bruins settled for a 24-yard field goal by Kai Forbath.

California 21, UCLA 14 (second quarter)

Johnathan Franklin’s touchdown was the longest scoring run for UCLA since Maurice Drew went 83 yards against Arizona State in 2003.

Just when the Golden Bears opened a 14-point lead, back came the Bruins behind Franklin’s 74-yard run.

-- Chris Foster