UCLA Has a Devil of a Time in 37-33 Loss to Arizona State

Jake Plummer threw two touchdown passes to key a 27-point second half as Arizona State rallied to beat No. 22 UCLA 37-33 on Saturday night, denying Bruin Coach Terry Donahue a record 98th Pacific 10 Conference victory.

The Sun Devils (5-4 overall, 3-3 Pac-10), who trailed 27-10 at halftime, took a 34-27 lead on Plummer’s 27-yard touchdown pass to freshman Kenny Mitchell 1:18 into the fourth quarter.

It came one play after the second of four fumbles by the Bruins (6-3, 3-3) in the second half, this by Karim Abdul-Jabbar, who rushed for 207 yards and one touchdown in 35 carries.

UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, who lost fumbles on consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter, scored on a five-yard run with 5:04 remaining to bring the Bruins within 37-33.

McNown was stopped short on a two-point conversion try, and Arizona State kept alive its hopes of going to a bowl for the first time since 1987.

Donahue, in his 20th season with the Bruins, is tied with ex-Washington coach Don James for most career Pac-10 wins.

Keith Poole’s 9-yard scoring touchdown run off a double reverse 1:59 into the third quarter started the Sun Devils comeback. Plummer’s 5-yard pass to freshman Ricky Boyer with 4:03 remaining in the quarter closed the gap to 27-24.