Upsets: UCLA Takes Bosco, and USC Hoists Champaign : Stevens, Bruins Win, 27-24, End BYU Streak at 25

A hush settled over Cougar Stadium Saturday night as shocked Brigham Young University fans watched the incredible series of events that brought their football team’s 25-game winning streak to an abrupt halt. Then, while a covey of UCLA fans, tucked into a corner section, celebrated a 27-24 last-minute upset, thousands upon thousands filed out of the stadium in silence.

It had all happened so quickly:

--The close and, as it turned out, controversial third-down lean-in touchdown by BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco with fewer than three minutes left that gave BYU a five-point lead. TV replays indicated that BYU should not have been credited with the touchdown.

--The stunning 62-yard pass from relief quarterback Matt Stevens to split end Mike Sherrard on the Bruins’ next play from scrimmage.

--The two-yard pitchout to Bruin sophomore Gaston Green to put UCLA ahead by one point, followed by Green’s two-point conversion run that put the Bruins up by three with 1:02 left.

--The interception by Bruin freshman Marcus Turner on BYU’s next play from scrimmage, destroying all hopes of a miraculous happy ending for the hometown fans.

With that interception, the nation’s longest winning streak came to an end.

“I think we made a mistake with that call,” BYU Coach Lavell Edwards said. “I think maybe it was too early to go long.”

But there were no apologies to be made for this game.

It was, as UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said, a classic.

And Edwards said: “That was as good a football game as you will see. That game didn’t hurt anybody’s (TV) ratings.”

For the Bruins, who had lost to BYU two years ago, in their only other meeting, and who have had some very inauspicious starts to their last few seasons, it was a big win.

For Donahue, it was victory No. 72, tying him with Bill Spaulding for the most football coaching wins in UCLA history.

For Stevens, it was a proving ground. He took over when starter David Norrie faltered, and he pulled out a victory in most convincing fashion.

It wasn’t a fluke, by any means. On the other hand, it wasn’t your typical three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust thumping, either.

UCLA’s offense scored just one touchdown--the game-winner when the situation called for throwing all caution--and the football--to the wind. And UCLA beat the most proficient offensive team in the country while gaining a mere 284 yards of its own.

Credit must go to the Bruin defense, and especially to the young secondary.

Donahue said: “It was a great football game between two very evenly matched teams. it was a big win for our program. We have great respect for BYU.

“I don’t know if we could have played any better than we played. Our defensive team gave an unbelievable effort.”

UCLA’s John Lee scored 13 of the Bruin points, kicking field goals of 25, 35, 20 and 25 yards and kicking the extra point after safety Craig Rutledge returned an interception 65 yards to score.

Bosco, who quarterbacked BYU to the national title last year and who passed for 508 yards in the Cougars’ opening victory over Boston College this season, completed 29 of 41 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns Saturday.

It was obvious from the start that UCLA was going to have to take advantage of every BYU miscue, because the BYU offense was living up to its reputation, and the UCLA offense was going nowhere.

Lee’s first field goal, just six minutes into the game, followed a blocked-punt recovery deep in BYU territory.

Bosco retaliated, passing downfield to put the Cougars within scoring distance, but the UCLA defense threw up a goal-line stand on its seven-yard line, and at 11:37, Gary Webster kicked a 24-yard field goal to tie the score.

UCLA was forced to punt after not gaining a first down on its next series, but on the first play after the punt, Rutledge came up with his pickoff of Bosco’s pass and ran it back to put UCLA ahead, 10-3.

Back came the Cougars on their next series, scoring on a 10-yard pass to flanker Mark Bellini at 1:13 of the second quarter.

Back came the Bruins, too, but their drive stalled on the BYU 18 when three straight running plays netted just five yards. Lee kicked another field goal, and the Bruins were up again, 13-10.

h a couple of well-placed throws, Bosco had his team right back in UCLA territory, and the Cougars scored on a short pass to split end Gene Kozlowski--short, but still long enough by a couple of inches as Kozlowski fell into the end zone at 11:31 of the second quarter.

With that, BYU led, 17-13, and the game was in the final minutes of the first half. But UCLA was to profit by a couple of more breaks.

The Bruins were on their own 11 and would have been facing a third-and-six, but BYU cornerback Jeff Sprowls wasn’t quite sneaky enough with a little kick to Sherrard while Sherrard was down, and the Bruins gained a first down at their 30 on the penalty. The next break came when Ted Henderson’s punt to Vai Sikahema was fumbled and recovered by UCLA at the BYU 28.

Time was running out in the first half, but UCLA seemed sure to score at least a touchdown--until Norrie threw an interception in the end zone.

When Norrie was unable to gain a first down on his first try in the second half, Stevens took over. The former Fountain Valley High star moved the team 74 yards in a drive that ended with another Lee field goal.

BYU did not score in the third quarter, and that in itself was worthy of note.

In the fourth quarter, Lee kicked his final field goal to put the Buins up, 19-17, but that was with 8:01 to play, and there was no doubt that BYU would score again.

There was doubt, however, that BYU had scored when Bosco made his effort over the UCLA line.

Edwards said that he thought Lakei Heimuli had scored on second-and-goal, on the play before, but that even he had his doubts about whether Bosco got the ball across the line.

UCLA defensive tackle Mark Walen said: “I don’t think he did. I wasn’t in a real good position to tell, since I was on the bottom of the pile, but I don’t see how he could have.

“None of the other guys thought he was in.”

TV replays showed that Bosco was down before he reached the ball across the line.

It would have been the subject of great debate had UCLA not come back to win the game.

There was also a questionable call on the series that set up Bosco’s touchdown, a pass-interference penalty on Chuckie Miller that nullified an interception. On second-and-five from the UCLA 30, Bosco passed to flanker Bellini. Miller reached around Bellini and tipped the ball, which linebacker Tommy Taylor then picked out of the air. There was a moment’s hesitation, and then a yellow flag dropped.

“I don’t think I touched him,” Miller said. “I reached around him.”

Miller was named the defensive player of the game, Stevens the offensive player of the game.