Trip to Seattle Poorly Timed for 4-5 Bruins : UCLA: Washington, already the best team in the Pac-10, could be inspired by its No. 2 ranking.

The UCLA-Washington game Saturday in Seattle would have been meaningful if the Bruins had beaten Oregon last Saturday at Eugene, Ore.

To clinch a berth in the Rose Bowl, Washington had to beat Arizona, which it did handily, 54-10. Only a UCLA victory over Oregon would have extended the race.

Now the Bruins, 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference, must play Washington and take on USC Nov. 17 at the Rose Bowl.

When Coach Terry Donahue looks back on the season, he might dwell on one play in the Oregon game as perhaps the most frustrating.

The Bruins were ahead, 24-13, with six minutes remaining when Oregon quarterback Bill Musgrave, under a heavy rush by strong safety Matt Darby, threw a pass intended for wide receiver Anthony Jones on fourth down from the Bruin 13-yard line.

The fluttering ball seemingly wasn’t within Jones’ reach, but side judge Gary Hirst dropped a flag, indicating Bruin cornerback Dion Lambert had interfered with Jones.

The penalty gave Oregon first down at the two-yard line. The Ducks scored and went on to win, 28-24.

After reviewing UCLA’s videotape of the play and also one from a Prime Ticket replay, Donahue said Monday that pass interference was not evident.

“In coaching, you have to roll with the punch,” Donahue said. “The films show that, at the start of the play, there’s contact between the wide receiver and defensive back.

“Then, there’s no contact for a period of time when the ball is thrown and in the air. It’s an uncatchable ball anyway.

“I’m not going to say I’m not going to go off (strongly criticize the call), because I’ve gone off before. But you know that I’m not allowed to comment on officiating,” Donahue said. “The official told me that Lambert had a hold of the receiver’s shirt with both hands. I told the official, ‘I hope you’re right because you just made a huge call.’ ”

Donahue also said there was a flagrant clip against one of his players on a 49-yard screen pass that carried to the UCLA 21-yard line before the pass-interference penalty.

UCLA will face an even greater task Saturday. The Huskies, 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the Pac-10, have routed every conference team they have played. Washington has outscored its league opponents, 263-64, an average margin of 32 points.

Even though Washington has clinched a Rose Bowl berth, UCLA won’t benefit from any possible letdown. With Virginia and Nebraska losing, Washington moved from seventh to second in the Associated Press poll.

So a possible national championship is in reach of the Huskies in their last three games with UCLA, Washington State and the Big Ten representative in the Rose Bowl.

“I’d say from a psychological standpoint, if a national championship wasn’t on the line, it would be an ideal time to play them,” Donahue said. “But because they’re in the national championship hunt, it’s a real lousy time to play them.

“We’re not going to catch them on a down day. So it’s not a matter of us sneaking up on Washington.”

Donahue said that Washington, like other Pac-10 teams, had been trying to find itself in early games, barely beating San Jose State and Purdue.

“Then, they dramatically turned around with their victory over USC (31-0),” he said. “They took on almost a different personality. All of a sudden they became dominating. They haven’t even had a close game in the conference. They’ve just gone after people’s throats.”

“Rich Brooks (Oregon’s coach) told me that they’re in a different league right now than everyone else that’s playing them.”

Donahue cited the quarterback play of Mark Brunell, more for his running ability than throwing, and the running of tailback Greg Lewis. Donahue also cited Washington’s lines.

“Their two lines are dominating,” he added. “Their offensive line looks like Michigan’s line, but their defensive line is better.

“They’re a very impressive football team. They’re big, tough and rough. I’m sure it’s the best Washington team that I’ve seen.”

Donahue said that Washington is comparable to its 1984 team that went 11-1 and beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. That team finished the season as the nation’s second-ranked team.