UCLA can’t make most of opportunities and falls to Colorado, 20-10
UCLA crumbled.
The Bruins forced four turnovers, but missed three field goals, in a 20-10 loss to No. 15 Colorado on Thursday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
There were a combined 25 penalties for 224 yards between the teams.
The Bruins’ defense did all it could, but the offense couldn’t move the ball and special teams allowed the Buffaloes to return a punt 68 yards for a touchdown, putting the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins fall to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Pac-12 Conference while the Buffaloes remain in first place in the South Division at 7-2, 5-1.
Mike Fafaul started at quarterback for Josh Rosen, who Bruins Coach Jim Mora confirmed will be sidelined for the season because of a shoulder injury.
Fafaul had a pass intercepted in the first quarter but followed with a 39-yard touchdown strike to Darren Andrews to tie the score, 7-7.
Fafaul completed 15 of 29 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown, with the one interception.
Bruins kicker J.J. Molson made a career-long 48-yard field goal for a three-point lead before he missed his next two attempts. Molson was replaced by Andrew Strauch in the fourth quarter, but he faired no better and missed a 36-yard attempt.
Colorado kicked two field goals before the punt return for a touchdown.
Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau completed 19 of 30 passes for 143 yards, with two interceptions. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in 24 carries.
No. 15 Colorado holds off UCLA, 20-10, in a marathon of penalties
Colorado ended the game in the victory formation, but not before UCLA picked up its 13th penalty of the game.
Jordan Lasley was called offside as the Buffaloes attempted to convert on fourth and four.
That about sums up the Bruins’ night.
UCLA misses a third field-goal try
Two dropped passes in the end zone and a missed field-goal attempt.
That about sums up UCLA’s offense tonight, and this season.
Jordan Lasley couldn’t hold on to Mike Fafaul’s pass at the goal line on second down, then Eldridge Massington dropped a third-down pass in the end zone.
Andrew Strauch came on in place of J.J. Molson to attempt the 36-yard field goal, but he missed. Molson missed two previous attempts after making a 48-yarder in the second quarter.
Jim Mora crouched on the sideline and put his head in his hands.
Colorado leads UCLA, 20-10, in the fourth quarter
Isaiah Oliver returned a UCLA punt 68 yards for a touchdown and Colorado leads the Bruins, 20-10, with 5:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
By now you can probably guess what the UCLA offensive series looked like. But in case you can’t, it went like this:
Kenny Lacy false start.
Colorado was called for a personal foul, roughing the passer.
Then Mike Fafaul’s next two pass attempts fall incomplete and he’s sacked for a 10-yard loss.
UCLA has 11 penalties for 80 yards, but not to be outdone, Colorado has 12 penalties for 128 yards.
UCLA blocks Colorado field-goal attempt
After a 16-play series, Colorado attempted a 36-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Rick Wade.
UCLA has played well enough on defense and special teams to win this game, but the question remains whether the offense can score enough points.
Sefo Liufau completed six of 10 passes in the series, which included a 10-yard reception by Bryce Bobo on fourth and eight.
Jayon Brown tackled Phillip Lindsay for a two-yard loss, and Randall Goforth nearly intercepted a pass by Liufau on third down to force the field-goal attempt.
UCLA’s offense stalls after another penalty
UCLA punted, but not before drawing another penalty.
Kenny Lacy was flagged for a false start to put the Bruins in a second-and-11 situation. Mike Fafaul’s pass fell incomplete on second and third downs.
If there’s any silver lining to be had, Ishmael Adams caught his first pass of the game, a 12-yard reception.
UCLA now has nine penalties for 60 yards. Colorado has 11 for 113.
Fafaul has completed 11 of 21 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Soso Jamabo has rushed for 66 yards in 23 carries.
No. 15 Colorado leads UCLA, 13-10, in the fourth quarter
This game has gone from kind of ugly, to really ugly, to unfathomably bad in the span of three quarters.
Colorado leads UCLA, 13-10, after kicking a 37-yard field goal. The scoring drive covered 54 yards in 14 plays and took 6:02.
But it’s been all about the penalties.
Colorado has 11 for 113 yards. UCLA has eight for 55. It’s a wonder they are playing a football game in between all the flying flags.
In that series alone, Sefo Liufau, while being dragged down by the facemask, completed a 14-yard pass to Phillip Lindsay — and a 15-yard penalty was tacked on for the facemask.
The Bruins’ defense was called for unnecessary roughness two plays later, then Jayon Brown was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Next up, Colorado was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, which backed the Buffaloes up from UCLA’s one-yard line to the 16.
UCLA misses a second field goal, remains tied, 10-10, with Colorado
UCLA has had plenty of opportunities in this game, but hasn’t made the most of them.
J.J. Molson attempted a 44-yard field goal, but missed. It was his second miss of the night.
Once again, a Colorado penalty helped move the Bruins along in the series. The Buffaloes picked up their fourth unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game when Ryan Moeller taunted Darren Andrews after he caught a seven-yard pass and was pushed out of bounds.
Buffaloes Coach Mike McIntyre chastised Moeller as he went to the bench and UCLA moved forward another 15 yards.
Mike Fafaul completed a 26-yard pass to Andrews, Soso Jamabo rushed for four yards, and then Fafaul was sacked for a 10-yard loss that stalled the drive.
The Buffaloes have a season-high 10 penalties for 98 yards.
This is an ugly game.
UCLA and No. 15 Colorado tied, 10-10, in the third quarter
This would not be what one would call a polished football game. It’s been rather ugly.
Colorado kicked a 21-yard field goal to tie the score, 10-10, with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter.
During the series the Buffaloes converted on fourth down by way of a UCLA penalty when the Bruins were called for a substitution infraction.
Later, Colorado fumbled on third down at the one-yard line, but was able to recover and kick the field goal on fourth down.
UCLA’s Adarius Pickett was injured during the series and left the field.
Slideshow: Photos from the UCLA-Colorado game
UCLA goes three and out to start the second half
UCLA punted after the drive stalled in three consecutive plays.
Center Scott Quessenberry and Mike Fafaul are having a difficult time connecting on the snap. Quessenberry has snapped the ball over Fafaul’s head once, and several other times the quarterback has had difficulty reeling it in.
The Bruins seem committed to getting the run game going, though Soso Jamabo hasn’t gone far. He has rushed for 57 yards in 20 carries, averaging 2.9 yards per carry.
Sefo Liufau returns for Colorado to start second half
Jayon Brown stopped Sefo Liufau short of a first down and Colorado punted on its first possession of the second half.
Liufau rushed for nine yards and Phillip Lindsay ran for six yards before the drive stalled.
Liufau, according to sideline reporter Jenny Taft, injured his neck in the first half when he was sacked by Takkarist McKinley. The training staff determined he could play in the second half.
Colorado has committed a season-high nine penalties -- and it’s only the start of the second half.
UCLA leads No. 15 Colorado, 10-7, at halftime
UCLA’s defense has done all it can against Colorado, but at some point the Bruins’ offense must score some points.
Randall Goforth intercepted a pass by Steven Montez and the Bruins’ defense has forced four first-half turnovers against Colorado. However, only one turnover has been converted into points.
The Bruins went three and out and punted after Goforth’s interception at UCLA’s 13-yard line.
Montez took over for Sefo Liufau, who went to the locker room during the previous drive after he was hit by Takkarist McKinley.
The Bruins lead the Buffaloes, 10-7.
UCLA misses field goal, but still leads No. 15 Colorado, 10-7
Colorado was cruising down the field until Takkarist McKinley sacked Sefo Liufau and forced a fumble.
Jayon Brown recovered the ball at UCLA’s 33-yard line and returned it 49 yards.
However, once again, UCLA was unable to convert the turnover into points. J.J. Molson’s 26-yard field-goal attempt was blocked on a great effort by the Buffaloes’ special teams.
Colorado’s penalty issue has been a big help to UCLA’s offense. Jordan Campbell was called for the Buffaloes’ third unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game, moving the Bruins eight yards closer to the goal line.
But the Bruins’ run game was stuffed and Mike Fafaul’s third-down pass fell incomplete.
Colorado has five penalties for 58 yards.
UCLA punts after back-to-back incompletions
UCLA’s run game was nonexistent coming into tonight’s game, but the Bruins are trying to get it going against Colorado.
Soso Jamabo rushed for 11 yards and a first down in the first play of the series before the drive stalled.
Jamabo was stopped for no gain before Mike Fafaul threw two incomplete passes.
Jamabo has rushed for 43 yards in 14 carries.
Jacob Tuioti-Mariner sacks Sefo Liufau and Colorado punts
Jacob Tuioti-Mariner lost his helmet and still went full-steam ahead to sack Sefo Liufau, and Colorado went three and out.
Liufau scrambled for no gain, was sacked and then picked up 10 yards in another scramble — one yard short of a first down.
Coach Mike MacIntyre chose to punt for a second time.
UCLA leads No. 15 Colorado, 10-7, in the second quarter
Linebacker Cameron Judge intercepted a pass by Sefo Liufau, and UCLA converted the turnover into three points when J.J. Molson kicked a 48-yard field goal.
UCLA leads Colorado, 10-7, with 12:19 remaining in the second quarter. The scoring drive lost three yards in four plays (yes, you read that correctly) and took 1:38.
Judge returned the interception 12 yards to Colorado’s 28-yard line.
But the offense struggled.
Mike Fafaul was sacked for an eight-yard loss, and Soso Jamabo was tackled after no gain. He then caught a six-yard pass to put the Bruins in field-goal territory.
Liufau had not had a pass intercepted this season, but he now has been intercepted twice by the Bruins.
UCLA’s drive stalls as snap issue continues
There is no flow to tonight’s game between penalties, injuries and television timeouts.
Mike Fafaul’s third-down pass fell incomplete, and UCLA punted for a second time.
Fafaul did as much as he could to sustain the drive when he scrambled for eight yards on third and three.
He then completed an 11-yard pass to Austin Roberts, after Nate Iese left the field with an apparent injury.
However, Fafaul and center Scott Quessenberry continue to have difficulty connecting on the snap. Quessenberry nearly snapped over Fafaul’s head, again, but he was able to pull it down and hand it off to Soso Jamabo, who was tackled for a loss.
Fafaul coudn’t work out of second and 14 and third and 14.
UCLA defense forces three and out
UCLA’s defense made quick work of Colorado in its last series.
Phillip Lindsay rushed for seven yards and Sefo Liufau rushed for two yards before Takkarist McKinley nearly tackled Lindsay for a loss and Randall Goforth finally took him down for no gain.
Colorado punted for the first time.
UCLA and No. 15 Colorado tied, 7-7, in the first quarter
Facing third and 11, Mike Fafaul created some space with his feet and completed a 39-yard pass to Darren Andrews for a touchdown.
UCLA and Colorado are tied, 7-7, with 4:04 to play in the first quarter. The drive covered 53 yards in three plays and took 1:33.
It looked like the drive would stall for the Bruins after Soso Jamabo rushed for four yards in two carries and Andre James was flagged for a false start on third and six, but Fafaul was able to make a nice throw to a wide-open Andrews, who toed hte sideline the rest of the way into the end zone.
Colorado was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at the beginning of the drive, which tacked 15 more yards onto Ishmael Adams’ 47-yard return.
It also should be noted that Colorado linebacker Jimmie Gilbert was ejected in the first defensive series after he was called for targeting.
No. 15 Colorado leads UCLA, 7-0, in the first quarter
It’s tough to tell right now if this UCLA and Colorado game is a defensive gem or just off to an ugly start.
Nevertheless, Colorado leads UCLA, 7-0, with 5:49 to play in the first quarter.
Tahaan Goodman intercepted his first pass of the season and UCLA took over at its 10-yard line, but the Bruins were unable to convert the turnover into any points because Kenne Olugbode intercepted a pass by Mike Fafaul nine plays later.
Olugbode returned the interception 51 yards to UCLA’s 23-yard line.
Phillip Lindsay rushed one yard for a Buffaloes touchdown to cap the short drive that took eight plays and 2:31.
Sefo Liufau has completed five of nine passes for 40 yards, with an interception.
Phillip Lindsay has caught three passes for 25 yards and Shay Fields has caught one pass for 18 yards.
For the Bruins, Soso Jamabo has rushed for 20 yards in five carries and Fafaul has completed three of four passes for 19 yards. The backup quarterback has also now thrown nine interceptions in his limited playing time this season.
Rough start for the Bruins
What a disastrous start for UCLA at Folsom Field.
Soso Jamabo rushed for two yards before a snap flew over Mike Fafaul’s head. The Bruins recovered, but it put them in a third-and-30 situation.
Needless to say, they went three and out.
Everyone in Southern California should be a UCLA fan tonight
There might be a few extra UCLA fans in the Southland tonight.
A Bruins win over Pac-12 South leader Colorado would bump the Buffaloes to 4-2 in conference and help — you guessed it — USC in the division standings.
Do you think Trojans fans have it in them to cheer for the Bruins?
Utah and USC are each 4-2 in conference.
UCLA and Colorado kickoff in less than an hour
UCLA must play the rest of the season without sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen, who is sidelined because of a shoulder injury.
The Bruins started Mike Fafaul against Washington State and Utah after Rosen suffered the injury against Arizona State, and it appears Fafaul will start again tonight against Colorado.
UCLA is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Pac-12, while Colorado is in first place in the Pac-12 South at 4-1, with an overall record of 6-2.
If there’s any good news for the Bruins, it’s that they’re playing in Boulder in early November with clear skies and no snow on the ground.
What to expect when the Bruins play the Buffaloes
This matchup involves a delightful duality for those tired of the same story lines from recent years: How low can UCLA go and how far can Colorado rise?
One more loss for the Bruins would guarantee Coach Jim Mora the most defeats of any of his five seasons in Westwood.
Meanwhile, the Buffaloes are bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and could match their conference victory total from the previous five seasons combined with a win over the Bruins as they chase the Pac-12 South Division title.